12 replies to this topic

[1tsm3jack]

The only list I found didn't seem very accurate to me, just from basic knowledge about a few polygynous species that I do know about that weren't even on the list, I was wondering what species people have had success with in keeping more than one queen in the colony? And what species of ants will breed in the nest? 

[eea]

The only list I found didn't seem very accurate to me, just from basic knowledge about a few polygynous species that I do know about that weren't even on the list, I was wondering what species people have had success with in keeping more than one queen in the colony? And what species of ants will breed in the nest? 

Solenopsis, Monomorium, Camponotus, Lasius, Anoplolepis, Paratrechina, and Pheidole are a few genera that contain species that have multiple queens inside the nest but only a few of these actually mate in the nest

[Ants_Dakota]

The only list I found didn't seem very accurate to me, just from basic knowledge about a few polygynous species that I do know about that weren't even on the list, I was wondering what species people have had success with in keeping more than one queen in the colony? And what species of ants will breed in the nest? 

Solenopsis molesta is a great example of an ant documented to breed in the nest. Check out my Micro Ants Journal in my signature and my shop to learn more.

[1tsm3jack]

Solenopsis molesta is a great example of an ant documented to breed in the nest. Check out my Micro Ants Journal in my signature and my shop to learn more.

 

 

 

Ok cool I did not know Molesta bred in the nests, I have talked to you about the ones in your shop, just waiting for you to get a permit to ship to Virginia.

[Ants_Dakota]

 

Solenopsis molesta is a great example of an ant documented to breed in the nest. Check out my Micro Ants Journal in my signature and my shop to learn more.

 

 

 

Ok cool I did not know Molesta bred in the nests, I have talked to you about the ones in your shop, just waiting for you to get a permit to ship to Virginia.

 

I think it is really cool too, and a unique trait of an ant a lot of people find boring.

[bmb1bee]

Two genera with polygynous species I have experience with are Cardiocondyla and Hypoponera. Both are able to mate inside the nest due to having ergatoid males and queens, which I think are a pretty cool trait.

[ANTdrew]

Some other common polygynous ants in Virginia are Monomorium minimum, Tapinoma sessile, Camponotus subbarbatus, Formica subsericea, and Colobopsis obliqua.

[rptraut]

Hello ANTdrew;

 

What about Myrmica ants?    I know they can have multiple queens, but do they breed in the nest?   I feel like they do.

RPT

[Ants_Dakota]

Hello ANTdrew;

 

What about Myrmica ants?    I know they can have multiple queens, but do they breed in the nest?   I feel like they do.

RPT

I am fairly positive they accept queens back into the nest, but further research needs to be done to determine if they inbreed. I agree with you that it is probably likely.

[rptraut]

Hello Ants Dakota;

 

I couldn't believe my eyes this afternoon when I looked up at my biggest Myrmica colony and saw about ten alates running around the formicarium, preparing for a nuptial flight.   We've had about two weeks of exceptionally warm weather, so, right or wrong, I took them outside, opened the lid, and in less than a minute all the alates that wanted to fly had taken flight.    Before replacing the lid, I took a close look at the ants that remained.   Besides a few workers, about eight of them were alates that appeared to be mated as they'd removed their wings and were running around.    I even saw a mating pair on the outside of the nest structure.     Technically not mating in the nest but mating on the ground at least opens up the possibility.   After a short time, they'd all returned to the nest, a good sign that the newly mated queens will be the next generation to take over the egg laying task next spring.   

 

 

 

Myrmica queens, even newly mated ones, aren't shy about coming out and getting their share of protein. 

RPT 

 

 

 

[Ants_Dakota]

Hello Ants Dakota;

 

I couldn't believe my eyes this afternoon when I looked up at my biggest Myrmica colony and saw about ten alates running around the formicarium, preparing for a nuptial flight.   We've had about two weeks of exceptionally warm weather, so, right or wrong, I took them outside, opened the lid, and in less than a minute all the alates that wanted to fly had taken flight.    Before replacing the lid, I took a close look at the ants that remained.   Besides a few workers, about eight of them were alates that appeared to be mated as they'd removed their wings and were running around.    I even saw a mating pair on the outside of the nest structure.     Technically not mating in the nest but mating on the ground at least opens up the possibility.   After a short time, they'd all returned to the nest, a good sign that the newly mated queens will be the next generation to take over the egg laying task next spring.   

 

 

IMG_8250.JPG

 

Myrmica queens, even newly mated ones, aren't shy about coming out and getting their share of protein. 

RPT 

Facinating, this is cool proof that they both inbreed and accept queens back into the nest. I think time must tell if their genetics prove them viable, but this is an awesome observation!

[rptraut]

Hello 1tsm3jack;

 

I keep Myrmica and Tapinoma sessile colonies with multiple queens.   Although a colony may have multiple queens, I've noticed that each queen likes to have her own space where she can lay and tend her own eggs and small larvae.    I often incorporate a queen chamber(s) in the formicarium design to give queens this separate space.     Sometimes I bury small test tubes or small bottles in moss, or I install a separate test tube for the queens to live in, as in the photo below.   In one five queen Myrmica colony, when I peeled back the cover, all five queens were in the test tube, but each was equally spaced from the other, guarding and tending her own brood pile.  Each was looked after by her own attendant workers.     The next day, all the queens and workers had moved somewhere else in the nest in their search for privacy, another common practice of queens.    They don't like to be disturbed.   So, I content myself that queens are alive and working as long as I can see workers coming and going from the test tube as they tend the queens.   I very rarely look at them.

 

 

 

 

In this Tapinoma sessile setup, between the brood chamber on the right and the outworld on the left, you can see the queen chamber (test tube) mounted with a blackout cover.   I can easily see workers coming and going as they tend the queen(s).

 

 

 

 

In this Myrmica colony with five queens, there was only three chambers in the nest I'd made.    Two of the chambers contained two queens, each occupied the far corners from each other and kept their brood separate. 

 

With multiple queen colonies I think it helps to provide separate places for the queens to lay and tend their brood.    When the larvae have grown big enough and the workers remove them from the queen's clutch, they all tend to go into one communal group and are raised together.   By providing queens with a secluded, private place we can promote their willingness to lay more eggs and produce more of that brood.

RPT

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SYUTEO]

I think I've heard somewhere that Tetramorium bicarinatum inbreeds in the nest. I myself never got to document this though, as my one and only T. bicarinatum colony died at just a few workers due to the queen dying early to unknown reasons.