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Queens with no Gasters

Started By Ottercl , Sep 3 2023 2:23 PM

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5 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Ottercl - Posted September 3 2023 - 2:23 PM

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LocationPlymouth County, Massachusetts

Recently, I’ve been finding a lot of winged queens with no gasters in pool. The queens were Solenopsis molesta and Lasius neoniger. Does anyone know why this is?

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#2 Offline ReignofRage - Posted September 3 2023 - 2:26 PM

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LocationCalif.

Dragonflies and other predatory insects/animals commonly will eat the gaster of queens during nuptial flights.

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#3 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 3 2023 - 2:58 PM

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LocationAlexandria, VA

I’ve seen this with Crematogaster queens.

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
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#4 Offline Propo.Fol - Posted September 3 2023 - 3:07 PM

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LocationNY

I found a lot of these in a pool this summer too..really interesting to know the cause!

#5 Offline gcsnelling - Posted September 4 2023 - 7:47 AM

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I suspect if the "pool" has time to develop a population of aquatic beetles they will take the gasters as well. In my yard I have a child's swimming pool for my dog which quickly attracts beetles and some aquatic true bugs and I commonly find damaged alates.

#6 Offline rptraut - Posted September 4 2023 - 5:24 PM

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LocationOntario, Canada

Bats also eat the juicy bits and drop the rest. I’ve found the head, thorax and wings of June bugs in my garden, the leftovers of a bats’ evening of feeding.