6 replies to this topic

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

So my L. niger colony’s queen died recently (abt 2 weeks ago) and I have also caught a lasius parasite, (L. umbratus to be precise) I am going to post photos later to see if I am right. Anyways, I want to Introduce the queen to the colony and I have heard that a queenless colony is more accepting to the parasitic queen.

 

Should I give her some workers for the colony to cull, then introduce her to the colony

 

please give me advice I am really clueless on what to do with the queenless colony

[ANTdrew]

Look in the archives for the thorough tutorial on how to do this. Search first, then post.

[RushmoreAnts]

So my L. niger colony’s queen died recently (abt 2 weeks ago) and I have also caught a lasius parasite, (L. umbratus to be precise) I am going to post photos later to see if I am right. Anyways, I want to Introduce the queen to the colony and I have heard that a queenless colony is more accepting to the parasitic queen.

 

Should I give her some workers for the colony to cull, then introduce her to the colony

 

please give me advice I am really clueless on what to do with the queenless colony

Lasius umbratus is a European species. The American variant was renamed Lasius aphidicola.

[Ants_Dakota]

Look in the archives for the thorough tutorial on how to do this. Search first, then post.

This is incredibly correct, especially in this situation. A search would have yielded you this. I know creating a post is easier but searching will yield you the most in-depth information.

Edited by Ants_Dakota, Today, 1:35 PM.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

 

So my L. niger colony’s queen died recently (abt 2 weeks ago) and I have also caught a lasius parasite, (L. umbratus to be precise) I am going to post photos later to see if I am right. Anyways, I want to Introduce the queen to the colony and I have heard that a queenless colony is more accepting to the parasitic queen.

 

Should I give her some workers for the colony to cull, then introduce her to the colony

 

please give me advice I am really clueless on what to do with the queenless colony

Lasius umbratus is a European species. The American variant was renamed Lasius aphidicola.

 

1. Ik that but... aphidicola is around 6mm and she is close to 8mm that is why I said Umbratus, but thank you for pointing out that (please tell me if I am wrong again, like I said I have minimal experience with parasites)

 

2. I gave her 2 workers and then what happened is that whenever the workers meet with her, they either touch her with their antennas or they start "jumping" does that mean they accepted her?

[Ants_Dakota]

 

 

So my L. niger colony’s queen died recently (abt 2 weeks ago) and I have also caught a lasius parasite, (L. umbratus to be precise) I am going to post photos later to see if I am right. Anyways, I want to Introduce the queen to the colony and I have heard that a queenless colony is more accepting to the parasitic queen.

 

Should I give her some workers for the colony to cull, then introduce her to the colony

 

please give me advice I am really clueless on what to do with the queenless colony

Lasius umbratus is a European species. The American variant was renamed Lasius aphidicola.

 

1. Ik that but... aphidicola is around 6mm and she is close to 8mm that is why I said Umbratus, but thank you for pointing out that (please tell me if I am wrong again, like I said I have minimal experience with parasites)

 

2. I gave her 2 workers and then what happened is that whenever the workers meet with her, they either touch her with their antennas or they start "jumping" does that mean they accepted her?

 

Lasius "juke" when stressed, like when you check on them with light, so probably not. However, that is a better sign than them fighting. I would look for signs of grooming or trophallaxis to know for certain she is accepted. As a sidenote, the subgenus Chthonolasius is easier to keep, and it is more likely the queen will be truly accepted. Other subgenera can have "fake" founding, with the workers killing the queen after weeks of no violence.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

 

 

 

So my L. niger colony’s queen died recently (abt 2 weeks ago) and I have also caught a lasius parasite, (L. umbratus to be precise) I am going to post photos later to see if I am right. Anyways, I want to Introduce the queen to the colony and I have heard that a queenless colony is more accepting to the parasitic queen.

 

Should I give her some workers for the colony to cull, then introduce her to the colony

 

please give me advice I am really clueless on what to do with the queenless colony

Lasius umbratus is a European species. The American variant was renamed Lasius aphidicola.

 

1. Ik that but... aphidicola is around 6mm and she is close to 8mm that is why I said Umbratus, but thank you for pointing out that (please tell me if I am wrong again, like I said I have minimal experience with parasites)

 

2. I gave her 2 workers and then what happened is that whenever the workers meet with her, they either touch her with their antennas or they start "jumping" does that mean they accepted her?

 

Lasius "juke" when stressed, like when you check on them with light, so probably not. However, that is a better sign than them fighting. I would look for signs of grooming or trophallaxis to know for certain she is accepted. As a sidenote, the subgenus Chthonolasius is easier to keep, and it is more likely the queen will be truly accepted. Other subgenera can have "fake" founding, with the workers killing the queen after weeks of no violence.

 

They are grooming! Now what do I do? do I keep them as a colony of 3, I slowly introduce new workers to the colony? or do I just put the queen in the nest where all of the workers reside?