Offline
-
Posted July 23 2024 - 7:36 PM
Member
I have an unidentified ant colony that I have had for a few years, this year they started producing ant alates which I was super excited for! But suddenly the queen alates started dying randomly. I made sure that this colony had plenty of access to food and water and suddenly the queen alates started dying! It's weird why only the queen alates were dying and the male alates weren't. Dose anyone know why this is happening?
Thank You for your time!
Offline
-
Posted July 24 2024 - 7:38 AM
Advanced Member
Its normal for colonies to cull alates. Females tend to sap up a lot of food while the males less. When they don't fly they become of no use and therefore culled. Its not a big problem so no need to worry much.
Currently keeping: 2 C.vicinus colonies.2 C.sansabeanus. 1 C.leavissimus. 2 C.Ca02. 1 V.pergandei. 4 T.immigrans.1 F.pacifica. 1 C.hyatti
1 M.ergatognya
Trying to get my hands on :C.modoc,A.vercicolor, and Any Honeypots
Offline
-
Posted July 24 2024 - 8:52 AM
Advanced Member
In some species they can also use them as workers but it's usually culling they do as explained by GOCAMPONOTUS. You might have alates for a while so it would be useful to post some pics of your colony to ID as it could help you with future problems (if any occur if course).Its normal for colonies to cull alates. Females tend to sap up a lot of food while the males less. When they don't fly they become of no use and therefore culled. Its not a big problem so no need to worry much.
Keeping:
3x - S. molesta (colonies and single queen) 1x - C. nearcticus (founding but no eggs) 
New!
1x - C. chromaiodes (colony) 1x - C. subbarbatus (founding)
1x - F. subsericea (founding) 1x - T. sessile (mega colony)
3x - P. imparis (colonies)
2x - L. neoniger (founding)
Check out my C. nearcticus journal here: https://www.formicul...cticus-journal/
Check out my C. chromaiodes journal here: https://www.formicul...aiodes-journal/
Online
-
Posted July 24 2024 - 9:18 AM
Advanced Member
Offline
-
Posted July 24 2024 - 2:45 PM
Advanced Member
Can't wait to hit that point for my lasius niger. At what point do they start producing alates?
Currently raising:
Myrmica Rubra (1 queen + ~5 workers)
Lasius Niger (single queen + ~90+ workers)
Lasius Neoniger (two single queen + brood)
Formica spp. (Queen [likely parasitic, needs brood])
Also keeping a friend's tetramorium immigrans for the foreseeable future. Thanks CoffeBlock!
Offline
-
Posted July 24 2024 - 11:11 PM
Advanced Member
Usually in the thousands but for some species, they may rarely get alates in the hundreds (although it is highly unlikely even though a possibility). Most start getting them in the thousands though and they receive them at their flying times (if a species that flies in the spring of next year, then they will produce alates in the fall or winter before while in captivity and just naturally from what I’ve seen).Can't wait to hit that point for my lasius niger. At what point do they start producing alates?
Keeping:
3x - S. molesta (colonies and single queen) 1x - C. nearcticus (founding but no eggs) New!
1x - C. chromaiodes (colony) 1x - C. subbarbatus (founding)
1x - F. subsericea (founding) 1x - T. sessile (mega colony)
3x - P. imparis (colonies)
2x - L. neoniger (founding)
Check out my C. nearcticus journal here: https://www.formicul...cticus-journal/
Check out my C. chromaiodes journal here: https://www.formicul...aiodes-journal/
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users
