12 replies to this topic

[bunyan]

I need quick help, i have a Lasius umbratus queen. i put her with 2 stray workers today that i found 3 days ago and put alone to let the pheromones fade. They are not fighting, but the queen was walking with her front legs bent inward a about 10 minutes ago, then it looked like she died, and now she's walking but struggling.

Sorry that i can't show a picture as i lost my phone a week ago and still can't find it...

Edited by bunyan, October 21 2016 - 5:21 AM.

[T.C.]

I mean no offense, but if she is already dead??? or even dying??? What do you want us to do? Why did you introduce her 2 random workers from the wild any way. Why didn't you just wait for her just to lay her eggs and raise her own workers?

[bunyan]

I mean no offense, but if she is already dead??? or even dying??? What do you want us to do? Why did you introduce her 2 random workers from the wild any way. Why didn't you just wait for her just to lay her eggs and raise her own workers?

L. umbratus is a parasitic species and i only have one small colony of L. niger and i don't want to kill anything.

[Batspiderfish]

I'm guessing something might have gone wrong along the way of the introduction, or else the queen was already dying when you found her. If you live in North America, your colony probably isn't Lasius niger.

When introducing workers to social parasites, the ants found above ground (the old foragers) are not suitable hosts. Only use callow workers, or those found tending to brood. I've also never had a colony succeed with fewer than 10-20 host workers.

Edited by Batspiderfish, October 21 2016 - 5:45 AM.

[T.C.]

 

I mean no offense, but if she is already dead??? or even dying??? What do you want us to do? Why did you introduce her 2 random workers from the wild any way. Why didn't you just wait for her just to lay her eggs and raise her own workers?

L. umbratus is a parasitic species and i only have one small colony of L. niger and i don't want to kill anything.

 

Oh, ok, i forgot about that, sorry

Edited by T.C., October 21 2016 - 5:50 AM.

[bunyan]

I'm guessing something might have gone wrong along the way of the introduction, or else the queen was already dying when you found her. If you live in North America, your colony probably isn't Lasius niger.

When introducing workers to social parasites, the ants found above ground (the old foragers) are not suitable hosts. Only use callow workers, or those found tending to brood. I've also never had a colony succeed with fewer than 10-20 host workers.

Then could it be a good idea to steal some brood of my already existing, but quite small L.niger colony? (it's my only colony)

[Batspiderfish]

Wait to see if your queen pulls through, first. Also, are you sure it is Lasius niger? Do you live in North America?

[bunyan]

Wait to see if your queen pulls through, first. Also, are you sure it is Lasius niger? Do you live in North America?

No, i live in The netherlands.

[Batspiderfish]

OK! Just wanted to try and eliminate the possibility of introducing the wrong ant if there were a misidentification. Wait to see if the queen stabilizes (offer them a tiny bit of sugary liquid).

[bunyan]

OK! Just wanted to try and eliminate the possibility of introducing the wrong ant if there were a misidentification. Wait to see if the queen stabilizes (offer them a tiny bit of sugary liquid).

I did, she is standing straight now, but i'll tell you if she recovered over a week.

[Enderz]

Hope it goes well!

[bunyan]

Hope it goes well!

 

 

OK! Just wanted to try and eliminate the possibility of introducing the wrong ant if there were a misidentification. Wait to see if the queen stabilizes (offer them a tiny bit of sugary liquid).

She is walking around again and it seems she noticed the brood i put in an hour ago.

[Batspiderfish]

You'll probably want to offer the colony tiny dabs of sugary liquid on the inside of the dry cotton bung. Two workers will have a hard time feeding the queen and they might not be very good at brood care because of their age.