16 replies to this topic

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

Basically the title says it all, but I do know that Lasius niger do not need to be hibernated but do not know if ubratus is the same thing. Even though they live mostly underground.

 

Some advice is appreciated!

Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, October 11 2024 - 2:08 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Yes.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

Yes.

Ok thank you for the answer

[RushmoreAnts]

Basically the title says it all, but I do know that Lasius niger do not need to be hibernated but do not know if ubratus is the same thing. Even though they live mostly underground.

 

Some advice is appreciated!

Lasius umbratus do not exist in North America. The species you are referring to is likely either aphidicola or speculiventris. umbratus is strictly Eurasian. All are related, though, and all require hibernation.

Edited by RushmoreAnts, October 11 2024 - 4:31 AM.

[Kowal]

Basically the title says it all, but I do know that Lasius niger do not need to be hibernated but do not know if ubratus is the same thing. Even though they live mostly underground.

 

Some advice is appreciated!

Lasius niger do need to be hibernated by default. You might see a colony someone had which skipped one diapause, but in general, you should expect the species to go into diapause regardless of temperature and not go out of it without a temperature drop for long enough. By trying to force your colony to go through diapause in room temperature you are very likely to lose the colony. 

[Ernteameise]

 

Basically the title says it all, but I do know that Lasius niger do not need to be hibernated but do not know if ubratus is the same thing. Even though they live mostly underground.

 

Some advice is appreciated!

Lasius niger do need to be hibernated by default. You might see a colony someone had which skipped one diapause, but in general, you should expect the species to go into diapause regardless of temperature and not go out of it without a temperature drop for long enough. By trying to force your colony to go through diapause in room temperature you are very likely to lose the colony. 

 

THIS.

You can find papers to experiments online (just use google scholar) where Lasius niger were kept for a few years without hibernation.

The colonies collapsed after a few years. And this in a species where a queen could reach ages older than 30 years old.

[RushmoreAnts]

I will also point out that Lasius niger is also a Eurasian species. While it is invasive in Quebec, any 'Lasius niger' could very well be Lasius americanus, which is smaller and dark like niger. If you're not keen on Lasius IDing it could also be a larger, lighter species such as neoniger or pallitarsis.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

I will also point out that Lasius niger is also an Eurasian species. While it is invasive in Quebec, any 'Lasius niger' could very well be Lasius americanus, which is smaller and dark like niger. If you're not keen on Lasius IDing it could also be a larger, lighter species such as neoniger or pallitarsis.

So I have found L aphidicola before and they are about 5-6 mm long but the one is have IS A MASSIVE 8MM (in Québec that is a lot for ants) so what do I call her for now? Any idea for id?

 

also just a short question? Are the petiole of lasius niger and neoniger the same?

 

This is a link with a pic of her

https://www.formicul...asius +parasite

Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, October 10 2024 - 6:51 AM.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

I found another picture if you need it

[Kowal]

I'm no expert in American Lasius, but for European better quality pictures are needed to ID black Lasius, even just to species group. Anyway - exact ID is not necessary as general care should be the same, including the need for a proper diapause. 

Edited by Kowal, October 10 2024 - 10:42 PM.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

I'm no expert in American Lasius, but for European better quality pictures are needed to ID black Lasius, even just to species group. Anyway - exact ID is not necessary as general care should be the same, including the need for a proper diapause. 

ok thank you for the heads up!

[RushmoreAnts]

So I have found L aphidicola before and they are about 5-6 mm long but the one is have IS A MASSIVE 8MM (in Québec that is a lot for ants) so what do I call her for now? Any idea for id?

All such species AntMaps records in Quebec (aphidicola, minitus, speculiventris, subglaber) are usually around 5-6 mm. I'm inclined to believe it may be just a large queen (a 'macrogyne') of one of those species (except minitus, which are even smaller, hence the name).

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

 

So I have found L aphidicola before and they are about 5-6 mm long but the one is have IS A MASSIVE 8MM (in Québec that is a lot for ants) so what do I call her for now? Any idea for id?

All such species AntMaps records in Quebec (aphidicola, minitus, speculiventris, subglaber) are usually around 5-6 mm. I'm inclined to believe it may be just a large queen (a 'macrogyne') of one of those species (except minitus, which are even smaller, hence the name).

 

I found her in an area that had like 5 or so giant queens like her, is that normal?

[Ants_Dakota]

 

 

So I have found L aphidicola before and they are about 5-6 mm long but the one is have IS A MASSIVE 8MM (in Québec that is a lot for ants) so what do I call her for now? Any idea for id?

All such species AntMaps records in Quebec (aphidicola, minitus, speculiventris, subglaber) are usually around 5-6 mm. I'm inclined to believe it may be just a large queen (a 'macrogyne') of one of those species (except minitus, which are even smaller, hence the name).

 

I found her in an area that had like 5 or so giant queens like her, is that normal?

 

So much about ant keeping is not known, so it is hard to say. There is the potential it is a new record in your area, so perhaps look at species that are from territories from around your area. The best scenario is that you preserve one in ethanol and get into contact with an entomology center near you.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

 

 

 

So I have found L aphidicola before and they are about 5-6 mm long but the one is have IS A MASSIVE 8MM (in Québec that is a lot for ants) so what do I call her for now? Any idea for id?

All such species AntMaps records in Quebec (aphidicola, minitus, speculiventris, subglaber) are usually around 5-6 mm. I'm inclined to believe it may be just a large queen (a 'macrogyne') of one of those species (except minitus, which are even smaller, hence the name).

 

I found her in an area that had like 5 or so giant queens like her, is that normal?

 

So much about ant keeping is not known, so it is hard to say. There is the potential it is a new record in your area, so perhaps look at species that are from territories from around your area. The best scenario is that you preserve one in ethanol and get into contact with an entomology center near you.

 

So after doing some quick research, my best guess is a Lasius subglaber queen, she might be a brown morph because usually they are more reddish on their head and thorax. but at the same time, I realised that I may have a dead subglaber queen and by comparing her to the dead queen, she still looks huge.

 

I am probably not able to send one to the lab because of my mom

 

(also sorry mods for this post not being in the id section, the topic has changed a lot ever since the first post)

Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, October 11 2024 - 2:09 PM.

[Ants_Dakota]

 

 

 

 

So I have found L aphidicola before and they are about 5-6 mm long but the one is have IS A MASSIVE 8MM (in Québec that is a lot for ants) so what do I call her for now? Any idea for id?

All such species AntMaps records in Quebec (aphidicola, minitus, speculiventris, subglaber) are usually around 5-6 mm. I'm inclined to believe it may be just a large queen (a 'macrogyne') of one of those species (except minitus, which are even smaller, hence the name).

 

I found her in an area that had like 5 or so giant queens like her, is that normal?

 

So much about ant keeping is not known, so it is hard to say. There is the potential it is a new record in your area, so perhaps look at species that are from territories from around your area. The best scenario is that you preserve one in ethanol and get into contact with an entomology center near you.

 

So after doing some quick research, my best guess is a Lasius subglaber queen, she might be a brown morph because usually they are more reddish on their head and thorax. but at the same time, I realised that I may have a dead subglaber queen and by comparing her to the dead queen, she still looks huge.

 

I am probably not able to send one to the lab because of my mom

 

(also sorry mods for this post not being in the id section, the topic has changed a lot ever since the first post)

 

Sending a sample to a lab is also difficult even without parental oversight, so that is probably for the best.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

Ah ok, I did not really know that