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Possible queen in Philadelphia area

Started By Antmom24 , Jul 23 2023 3:56 PM

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5 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Antmom24 - Posted July 23 2023 - 3:56 PM

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Found this ant in my parent’s backyard around 5pm. It’s reddish brown with a stripe on its gaster. I think I see wing scars but it could be wishful thinking because I’m not that experienced. It’s about 8mm long. Is this a queen and what species?

#2 Offline antperson24 - Posted July 23 2023 - 3:58 PM

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LocationNorth East Iowa

Looks like a parasitic Lasis queen.

Why keep ants that aren't found in your yard?

There are so many fascinating ants right were you live!

I disagree with the keeping/buying of ants that are not found in your area.

#3 Offline Antmom24 - Posted July 23 2023 - 4:32 PM

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Thank you!

#4 Offline AntsTopia - Posted July 23 2023 - 7:30 PM

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LocationBrooklyn, NY and Managua, Nicaragua

Yes a parasitic Lasius queen, this queen will not be able to lay eggs until she has workers. She has to go into a lasius colony and kill the queen and take her place. Or you could give her brood from another lasius colony but that would be difficult due to your experience level. My advice: let that queen ant go and try to catch a different non-parasitic queen ant.

ANTdrew and antperson24 like this

Keeper of:
Camponotus castaneus | 20-25 workers
Tetramorium Immigrans | 1,000+ workers (yes I gave them a brood boost don’t be salty!)
Aphaenogaster Rudis | 16 workers
Pheidole bicarinata | 50-60 workers

Ants are just better.

#5 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 24 2023 - 5:20 AM

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LocationAlexandria, VA

Yes a parasitic Lasius queen, this queen will not be able to lay eggs until she has workers. She has to go into a lasius colony and kill the queen and take her place. Or you could give her brood from another lasius colony but that would be difficult due to your experience level. My advice: let that queen ant go and try to catch a different non-parasitic queen ant.

I agree.

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#6 Offline Antmom24 - Posted July 25 2023 - 6:06 AM

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Thanks for your advice. We had set her up as a semi caustral while we figured out what to do and offered frozen fruit flies and honey water. She didn’t eat overnight and your comments convinced us to let her go.