13 replies to this topic

[CaptainRedBeardd]

Hey everyone,

 

I was just wondering, would it be possible to catch wild, virgin alates of males and females and get them to mate, somehow? Maybe place a container outside when it's warm and sunny?

 

Thoughts?

 

 

Thanks!

[Salmon]

Some male insects will mate under unnatural circumstances if their head is removed. I read someone mention in passing that it works for ants somewhere (maybe on this forum.)

Edited by Salmon, September 28 2016 - 2:09 PM.

[Canadian anter]

If they were flying at the time then yes. I find that this is easiest with ponera and myrmica. Retroman reports doing it with pogonomyrmex tenuspinus.Come to think of it, it seems like it is easier with semi claustral species

[dspdrew]

It's always been said that it can't be done, but I've seen a few people do it, including myself. It depends on the species. There are some that will obviously mate in captivity without a problem. I just mated some Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus the other day, the same way Retroman does it. I'll be posting some video of it soon.

[CaptainRedBeardd]

I just searched through his profile for a bit and couldn't find a specific post..can you explain the way he goes about it? Maybe I can try. On a related note, after just half a day, my males seem to be passing away.. Do they not live long? I mean, could they have already mated? The female alates haven't taken their wings off but, they are definitely still alive. Pogonomyrmex Rugosus. I'm kinda hoping they've already done the dirty..haha. They have water and even some food and they have an above room temp room with no light while I'm out.. Thoughts?

[LC3]

Males don't live long at all, they're practically incapable of caring for themselves.

[CaptainRedBeardd]

Well, darn. Lol.

[NightsWebs]

I have tried this on several occasions with P. Californicus with both male & female Alates from different nests and with Alates from the same nest.  I have had zero luck even using Talus founding formicariums that I have raised successful colonies with the best humidity and temperature ranges.  Ill keep testing to see if I have any luck with mature colonies.

[Canadian anter]

I actually did this with ponera successfully. The females killed the males aftwr mating

[CaptainRedBeardd]

I actually did this with ponera successfully. The females killed the males aftwr mating

 

Well, here's to hoping..haha. The males were passing away last night so, when I get home, I will check on them and if all the males are dead, I will put the females in test tube set ups and see what happens in a week or 2. It's always worth a shot to get the one ant colony I would really want!

[dspdrew]

http://www.formicult...-5-2016/?p=5708

[CaptainRedBeardd]

http://www.formicult...-5-2016/?p=5708

 

 

Hmm...this may actually be something to try. How does he water the parent nest? Does he literally just hose it down on a rain-like setting, you think? Like watering plants? haha.

 

Thanks!!

[dspdrew]

It's a captive nest. I think he just pours a little water on it.

[Mdrogun]

We might eventually be able to artificially inseminate virgin queens. I would imagine it'd be similar to what people do with bees. You would probably need a large amount of people to collaborate in order to even develop a prototype. We're probably at least 20 years away from people even thinking about developing something like this but it's cool to think about.

 

Here's a video on how they do it with bees:

 

Sorry to go off topic a little bit 

Edited by Mdrogun, September 29 2016 - 7:08 PM.