9 replies to this topic

[Okeedoke22]

Hello all,

 

Can anyone help me ID this queen?  If it is a queen?  Sorry I'm very new to this and was super excited because I figured I missed any nuptial flights this year. I have read many pages of these forums but I still have no clue if it is a queen or male?

 

I was coaching my boys at football practice and seen some ants flying near my head.  I sent the kids to do some drills and I retreated into my car to find something to put them in.  Unfortunately was not prepared so I only had an empty water bottle.  

 

Location- Queens, New York

Caught Today 10/21

Brownish, reddish in color

Under 1cm

It has not rained here in about a week so I was surprised.  It was unusually hot for this time of year though.

Fully or Semi Claustral.

 

Thank you and sorry if its not a queen at all.  haha

Attached Images

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Edited by Okeedoke22, October 21 2015 - 4:16 PM.

[Crystals]

Male have huge eyes and tiny small heads.

This is a queen.

 

Parasitic Lasius queen.  See if you can find some Lasius pupae around (under rocks or logs is good bet).  Feed her a tiny drop of sugar water every 2nd day to keep her strength up.

[Okeedoke22]

Thank you Crystals!  When I took the picture I was pretty sure it was a queen.  Only reference I have is everyone's pictures. (not a bad picture with my Iphone 6)   

I will try but I doubt I have the skills to succeed.  Talking in the chats last night it seems they are harder to care for.  

 

My older son who has no interest at all was into the idea of it being parasitic. 

 

Was hoping for something fully Claustral.  

 

By the way love the video on how to make a Formica. 

[Crystals]

The parasitic Lasius can be harder than parasitic Formica due to the fact that the Lasius tend to fly when there are few Lasius pupae in most nests (Formica usually fly mid-summer when there are lots of pupae in wild nests).

You should be able to find some late season pupae still.  Just give her any Lasius pupae you find (we can help ID the species if you a picture of the worker - Lasius almost always have cocoons in the wild).

 

(Yes, they need to be Lasius.  Other species will not work).

 

All else fails and you can't find Lasius pupae, try 2-4 shy Lasius workers (ones that try to run, not ones that are happy to attack).  Put the workers in the fridge overnight, then put them with the queen (queen should not be chilled, or chilled only for 10min).  Do not be surprised if she immediately kills one worker, several parasitic Lasius are well known to kill one worker to gain the colony's scent.  She will likely accept the other 2 afterwards.

Ensure the queen is well fed on sugar water, and don't feed the workers at all, I have found workers far more receptive to a new queen if she is full of sweet stuff and they are hungry.  Many species share the nest scent by sharing liquid food via trophallaxis.  This just encourages it.

[antmaniac]

Nice find, you could had sent the kids to do queen catching drill. On a serious note, water bottle is fine to house the queen temporarily since there are so many around and easier to find. But make sure you have dry out the bottle as much as possible or put some stuffs in there to soak up the water droplets. Queen can drown in the bottles.

[Okeedoke22]

Thanks Crystals.  I know for sure I can find workers.  I seen the holes they were coming out of.  Lots of them only issue is its in a grassy area and wouldn't want to dig because I would end up killing so many.  I could grab a few workers though.  

 

Antmaniac I caught it on a water bottle but had a few test tubes at home.  I set her up in there.  

[Crystals]

The pupae are usually in the top 1-3" of soil, you wouldn't have to dig far.  Just a small hand shovel.  They rebuild quite quickly if you only stir up the top 3" or so.

Let us know how it goes.

[Mdrogun]

Thanks Crystals.  I know for sure I can find workers.  I seen the holes they were coming out of.  Lots of them only issue is its in a grassy area and wouldn't want to dig because I would end up killing so many.  I could grab a few workers though.  

 

Antmaniac I caught it on a water bottle but had a few test tubes at home.  I set her up in there.  

If you are worried about killing a ton you could feed them. They would get extra food and thus would be able to rebuild the population quickly.

[Okeedoke22]

So I introduced some workers to my Parasitic Lasius and this morning when I checked on them the workers were dead.  I will try to get some pupae and try again.  

 

On another note when I went to collect a few workers I turned over some rocks and found another Queen.  Didn't have anything to store it in so I left her(Rookie mistake) I plan on going back to that spot and hopefully she will be there.  It was noon and I think she was coming up for some heat.  I should have taken a picture. She was a light orange color.  Very nice looking. 

Very small under 1cm.   The park I'm was at is basically a bunch of baseball fields. Adjacent to a small wooded area.  

[Okeedoke22]

Mdrogun- Thanks for the advice. I will put it to good use.