4 replies to this topic

[CaptainRedBeardd]

Hey everyone,

 

I am in the market for a queen and and starting colony. I have just a couple GAN farmers around me (all are about 6 hours away).

 

I am wondering, which species of ant is generally larger in size (actual size, not number of members in a colony)? The Lasius sp. or the Solenopsis Geminata?

 

Thank you.

[drtrmiller]

Lasius neoniger is great for beginners. Other Lasius species, I'm not so sure. Solenopsis will become too unmanageable, and are far more aggressive and difficult to keep contained. Workers are roughly the same size. However, Solenopsis will produce majors, which are slightly larger.

You can easily find Solenopsis geminata or S. invicta queens waddling along on the sidewalks and in parking lots in late May though the summer and even early autumn after it rains, when the afternoon air is thick with humidity and relatively still.

[CaptainRedBeardd]

So Lasius does not create majors?

Thank you for all the information! It was even more than I wanted, which helps a lot! My main problem is, I can't seem to find any queens. I've found one but, she's been in a test tube set up for a month and hasn't done anything. I check about once a week. I'm wondering if she's gonna wait until after winter..or maybe she's not fertile. I have her in a dark closet with constant temp about 80-90.

I feel it's a little late in the year for me to get another nuptial flight.. And I'm in west Texas where it is super dry so, no rain to even make them wanna come out. =/ I work right by some huge Pogonomyrmex Rugosus colonies. About 6 or so. I would REALLY prefer a colony of these but, no GAN farmers in texas have any. I'm watching them every day hoping for a late flight.. Maybe we'll get another good rain before winter really hits.. Here's to hoping, eh? I Will definitely get a colony of these next year but, until then, I may need to buy a queen.

[drtrmiller]

According to the mating flight chart, P. rugosus flies in July. They're probably tricky to start from a queen, however. If possible you may want to collect some brood when you manage to obtain a queen, so you can jumpstart the colony.

http://www.formicult...ngmating-chart/

Edited by drtrmiller, October 4 2016 - 8:58 AM.

[Vendayn]

And as an additional note. You can also boost Pogonomyrmex rugosus with Pogonomyrmex californicus brood. In fact, boosting many Pogonomyrmex species actually helps A LOT in getting a colony started. Some might not get along entirely well though. I think boosting Pogonomyrmex californicus with Pogonomyrmex rugosus brood doesn't work (supposedly, Drew didn't seem entirely sure).

 

However, boosting Pogonomyrmex in general greatly raises success rate and boosts the colony's initial growth speed quite a bit. I'd almost say that is really the best way to get colonies going of the genus. While maybe not as satisfying as starting from just a single queen, I'd personally much rather have a higher chance of a successful colony. Especially because Pogonomyrmex in general can be rather hard to get a successful colony going.