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Male alate?!

Started By MC Wren , Oct 10 2016 9:47 AM

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9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline MC Wren - Posted October 10 2016 - 9:47 AM

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I have a Camponotus pennsylvanicus colony with 16 workers. A large pupa just eclosed, and it was a male alate! What the hell?! I was so excited because I thought it would be a media worker. Why is there a male alate when there are only 16 workers?!

#2 Offline Kevin - Posted October 10 2016 - 10:20 AM

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Did you find the queen in a nuptial flight? If you found her in a mature colony then she might be old enough to produce male alates.

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#3 Offline MC Wren - Posted October 10 2016 - 10:24 AM

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Did you find the queen in a nuptial flight? If you found her in a mature colony then she might be old enough to produce male alates.

I found her inside a piece of firewood with no workers earlier this year.

#4 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted October 10 2016 - 10:32 AM

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The workers must've been foraging...

YJK

#5 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted October 10 2016 - 10:33 AM

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Also the queen could've run out of sperm

YJK

#6 Offline Kevin - Posted October 10 2016 - 10:41 AM

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The workers must've been foraging...

I don't think an entire colony would be foraging all at once.

dermy likes this

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#7 Offline MichiganAnts - Posted October 10 2016 - 6:43 PM

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are you sure its not a major? and maybe something bad happened to the colony(war, predator, ect)

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#8 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted October 10 2016 - 7:38 PM

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Seeing as how there is only one male, it was probably just a fluke. It happens every once in a while.

If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

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Black lives still matter.