11 replies to this topic

[antnothinglikeit]

1. Location of collection: Flint MI
2. Date of collection: Aug 27 10 am
3. Habitat of collection: Crawling down hotel wall
4. Length (from head to gaster): 15mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: black/dark brown head, orange thorax, black/brown gaster

 

I have had her in a test tube thinking she is a novaeboracensis, but its been over a week and nothing. any ideas. thanks. Very new at any keeping/ hobby.
 

Album: Camponotus novaeboracensis

3 images

0 comments

Edited by antnothinglikeit, September 5 2016 - 11:24 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

You need at least a picture and a measurement in mm, in addition to your location, to get an ID.

Edited by Batspiderfish, September 5 2016 - 11:19 AM.

[antnothinglikeit]

You need at least a picture and a measurement in mm, in addition to your location, to get an ID.

Sorry I had album set on private try now ty

[Batspiderfish]

At 15mm, Camponotus novaeboracensis looks correct. She looks really hungry -- maybe she already started a colony that didn't make it. I know that Camponotus will fly in the fall if the colony is too hungry, but I would expect the queens to be fatter than this. Offer her some honey and insect protein on a tiny tray, and see if she eats.

Edited by Batspiderfish, September 5 2016 - 11:37 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

It looks like other people are finding underfed Camponotus queens, so this must be normal for a flight at this time of year. The drought conditions have forced these queens to fly now instead of next spring.

[antnothinglikeit]

At 15mm, Camponotus novaeboracensis looks correct. She looks really hungry -- maybe she already started a colony that didn't make it. I know that Camponotus will fly in the fall if the colony is too hungry, but I would expect the queens to be fatter than this. Offer her some honey and insect protein on a tiny tray, and see if she eats.

I'm on the hunt for meal worms, see if I can fatten her up

[Batspiderfish]

She probably won't accept insect protein if she flew recently, but that is fine. She probably wants sugars.

[antnothinglikeit]

She probably won't accept insect protein if she flew recently, but that is fine. She probably wants sugars.

you are correct! I offered her a small smear of honey and she would eat it right away, four smears later and she was still eating. Hoping with a full belly she will produce some eggs.

[Shareallicu]

1. Location of collection: Flint MI
2. Date of collection: Aug 27 10 am
3. Habitat of collection: Crawling down hotel wall
4. Length (from head to gaster): 15mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: black/dark brown head, orange thorax, black/brown gaster

 

I have had her in a test tube thinking she is a novaeboracensis, but its been over a week and nothing. any ideas. thanks. Very new at any keeping/ hobby.
 

Good find, she is beautiful!  I am also new at keeping queen ants. 

[James C. Trager]

This boreal (northern) species seems to require a long period of vernalization (winter dormancy). I've had a queen for over two years now that starts laying in March and quits by July. Her little larvae just stop developing in the first instar, until the following spring when days get noticeably longer. So, yours most likely won't produce brood till spring. Fatten her up as best you can now, then stick her in the fridge, periodically making sure she isn't drying out, till April.

Seriously - The slowest developing colony I've ever had!
Have others had a similar experience with C. novaeboracensis? 

[antnothinglikeit]

This boreal (northern) species seems to require a long period of vernalization (winter dormancy). I've had a queen for over two years now that starts laying in March and quits by July. Her little larvae just stop developing in the first instar, until the following spring when days get noticeably longer. So, yours most likely won't produce brood till spring. Fatten her up as best you can now, then stick her in the fridge, periodically making sure she isn't drying out, till April.
Seriously - The slowest developing colony I've ever had!
Have others had a similar experience with C. novaeboracensis?

Ideas on what to feed her? She isn't interested in honey or small bits of mealworms. I have a bar fridge what setting should I have it on?

[Batspiderfish]

Just as long as it isn't freezing, she should be fine. Arboreal, Camponotus from temperate regions are particularly cold-resistant. It might be best to hibernate her now, if she isn't interested in food. Make sure you've cleaned up what food she's left behind, of course.

Edited by Batspiderfish, September 23 2016 - 10:05 PM.