9 replies to this topic

[Invix]

I am starting this topic not only because I need it but because I’m sure many will in the future. I recently bought a Camponotus Floridanus colony and gave them a hearth nest. They had 13 workers, and 4 larvae. I feed them mealworm guts and nectar until every ant and the queens gasters were full. Then, 4 days later, I woke up one morning and the queen was BEHEADED and discarded in the trash pile. All the workers were in great shape and everything looked the same except the dead queen. I bought another Floridanus and they will get here soon.

So, I was hoping there was some way to merge these colonies, transferring the alive workers and brood from the dead colony into the new colony with an alive queen. I did some research on merging Camponotus before, I had a Camponotus casteneus colony in the same situation. I tried using the cold technique (put them in a fridge for a day and connect test tubes) and the colonies fought to the death and I was left with about half the workers dying from the acid spray injuries. Any thoughts on how I should do this with my floridanus?

[bmb1bee]

It's highly unlikely the cold technique would work on its own. I've heard of people using vinegar to mask colony scents, but I wouldn't go through the effort to individually dunk every worker into vinegar just to merge colonies. My best bet would just be to take the brood from the remaining workers and boost the new colony with them, if I were you.

 

Not to mention: if the workers did that to their old queen, what's to stop them from beheading their new queen?

[OhNoNotAgain]

I agree on the beheading comment. Like, maybe those workers are a little deficient? Unless the queen died and THEN was beheaded for being trash. Or was sick or something.

 

I don't know anything about C. floridanus. It looks like you might be able to merge if you really want to:

 

https://www.formicul...s-colony-merge/

 

Some Camponotus are super tolerant. With my CA02, a loose worker will join an existing colony in less than 24 hours (at least with very small colonies). I suspect Camponotus vicinus (at least the variant I have) are similar. From the post above, it seems C. floridanus are less tolerant.

 

If you aren't trying the gradual approach above:

- It's probably best if a queen has raised up at least one nanitic (at least was true with Myrmecocystus - a queen who'd never had workers apparently doesn't accept new workers)

- If you want to try seeing how a merge would work, you can try introducing ONE worker to the queen's outworld. (If the worker has been without a queen for a while, better)

- Don't be too surprised if the queen's own workers (if any) destroy the new worker

[JustabirdfromFlorida]

it worked for me with two queenless colonies. I left them in the garage over night (it was in the early 40's) it worked pretty well with one major casualty.

 

Ps. where are you getting these colonies i could really use another colony

Edited by asim, December 8 2023 - 2:36 PM.

[Invix]

Thanks for all the replies!

I decided, to do an experiment, for everyone, and here are the experiment and results:

I decided to combine the colonies without any method just by connecting the test tubes. Immediately one worker ran over to the colony with the queen and took a couple jabs at one of the queens workers and then something crazy happened. As the worker fought the worker from the queen less colony, tropholaxis (That’s not how to spell but whatever) began when they bit each others heads. It lasted for about a minute and by then all queenless workers were feeding the newly arrived workers. So in the end, the colonies combined in about 5 minutes and then I gave them their new hearth nest.

For asim: I got them from my-antics.com

Edited by Invix, December 9 2023 - 8:37 PM.

[Invix]

It's highly unlikely the cold technique would work on its own. I've heard of people using vinegar to mask colony scents, but I wouldn't go through the effort to individually dunk every worker into vinegar just to merge colonies. My best bet would just be to take the brood from the remaining workers and boost the new colony with them, if I were you.

Not to mention: if the workers did that to their old queen, what's to stop them from beheading their new queen?

The queen was beheading for being dead, i did hours of research through books and websites and never found anything about ants killing their own queen in floridanus. I believe it helps get rid of pheromones somehow, or maybe just is easier to carry to the trash pile.
Here is the best pic I could take.

keyboard test software online

The 11 worker queenless colony and the 10 worker colony successfully merged.

[bmb1bee]

Just keep an eye on them for the next few days, in case if anything happens. Cool that they managed to merge though.

[100lols]

Still looking like a clean merge?

[Invix]

Yes. Took them out of the nest because I'm moving.

[SHmealer]

I have had success with polygynous Floridanus colonies and merging them. Not to long ago i merged a 10 queen colony with a 1 queen colony.