5 replies to this topic

[dermy]

I have just found a few queens of the same species of ant I already have, which I am currently doubting are Myrmica, because of the lack of stingers. I have seen a few still flying so I will be going out shortly to find some more queens. I want to start a super colony from them, they are Polygamous in nature so I figure it would work, what are your thoughts? How many queens is too much for one colony?

[Gregory2455]

Well, I am not sure. As much as you have room for I guess, 

More queens= FASTER population growth, but overall population limit is determined by amount of food and space they have.

How much queens exactly?

[dermy]

Only was able to get 15, but still a good number, they seem to like eachother, wonder what will happen when I get workers, this species is poly but who knows...

[Crystals]

I am wondering if you caught Lasius (possibly neoniger?)...  Lots of them are flying now - but they are not polygyne.  After the first workers elcose they supposedly kill one another off until only one queen is left.

[Mercutia]

You might want to ID them before attempting to stick them all together.

[Anhzor]

alot of queen will work together to start up a colony only to have the worker execute the less dominant queen.  Its not a bad idea to put them together, just prepare to remove them once the worker enclose.