3 replies to this topic

[Stubyvast]

Hello everyone! I need help identifying this queen. She looks similar in shape to a Formica Pacifica worker, but slightly larger, and different colouring. Any idea what she is? Is she parasitic or semi-claustral? Any help would be great. Caught on a windy-ish mild weather day, no other queens in sight, in BC Canada. Definitely has wing scars, and large gaster.

 

According to my phone's suggestions, looks like Formica Obscuripes. If so, how do I introduce other formica species? I have a big colony of them outside that I can easily collect workers from, but not young ones, unless I dig up the nest. They are Formica Pacifica, and apparently a target species for F. Obscuripes. PLEASE HELP

 

 

 

 

Edited by Stubyvast, June 5 2024 - 4:41 PM.

[Manitobant]

Definitely Formica Obscuripes. As for introducing workers, You’ll need some callows (newly eclosed) ones which are easy to spot as they are completely pale in color. The best way to find these is by either flipping rocks or taking a scoop off of the surface of a mound, as formica generally keep their callows right at the top of the nest.


As for host species, any formica should work, though if you have access to F. obscuripes workers you can try giving her fully hardened adult ones, as obscuripes queens will sometimes rejoin a colony of their own species after mating. However, i would only do this as a last resort if you cannot get callows as its not guaranteed to work and they are an extremely aggressive species.

[Stubyvast]

Okay thanks! I do have an f. Pacifica that might work, although their colonies are mostly under some concrete. I'll see what I can do though! Thanks for the help. 

In case I can't access any callow workers, can I introduce full-grown ones to the queen using the refrigeration method or netting method? I assume you know about those.

[EdmontonAntKeeper]

f. Pacifica is one of their host species.  I would try giving her f. Pacifica pupae first if you can.