28 replies to this topic

[dean_k]

Hello.

 

I am a dude from Ontario, Canada.

 

I recently caught two Lasuis sp queens and they are in my test tubes. I am hoping they'd egg - one day - and hope to show off my set up once they do...

 

Until then, I have nothing to do.

[Myrmicinae]

Hello.

 

I am a dude from Ontario, Canada.

 

I recently caught two Lasuis sp queens and they are in my test tubes. I am hoping they'd egg - one day - and hope to show off my set up once they do...

 

Until then, I have nothing to do.

 

Lasius queens that fly this late in the season tend to require a hibernation period to beginning laying eggs.  I would suggest storing them in a fridge for a few months during the winter.

[dspdrew]

Welcome.

[dean_k]

Lasius queens that fly this late in the season tend to require a hibernation period to beginning laying eggs.  I would suggest storing them in a fridge for a few months during the winter.

 

That was what I was told at Yuku ant forum. It's like summer here right now in Ontario though and this year's winter is predicted to be fairly warm and mild. I guess I will put them in a fridge around November and let them out in early Feb.

 

Or should I put them in now and take them out in December?

Edited by dean_k, September 29 2014 - 9:38 AM.

[dermy]

Welcome to the forum, nice to see a fellow Canadian on here instead of all those Californians

 

As it's been stated Lasius need to be hibernated, heck all ants that require a period of hibernation will need to hibernate soon.

 

I've been told 3 months is good enough for hibernation so if you put them in on October 1st/2014 then you can take them out either late December or January 1st/2014.

[dean_k]

There is a concern for me though.

 

If they manage to lay eggs and develop a colony, how would I put them in hibernation? What I am trying to say is that I won't have a big room in my fridge for ants. And my garage goes udner freezing temp during winter.

 

I don't think putting them in my basement will be an option since my basement simply isn't cool enough for anything to go hibernating.

[Crystals]

Welcome!  Nice to see another Canadian.

 

Did this Lasius fly yesterday or the day before?  I happen to know that there was a humongous flight of Lasius pallitarsis on those days in southern Ontario - the best part with Lasius pallitarsis is that the workers will be yellow! 

 

Here are some pictures of various formicariums: http://forum.formicu...-and-outworlds/

 

Many of them are flat and will fit on a fridge shelf.  You can just remove the outworld and attach a test tube with hummingbird nectar when the colony gets bigger.

Those all in one formicariums don't work so well with those of us that need to hibernate ants.  Although I did manage to hibernate 2 large all in one nests in one of those plug-in coolers.

[dean_k]

Welcome!  Nice to see another Canadian.

 

Did this Lasius fly yesterday or the day before?  I happen to know that there was a humongous flight of Lasius pallitarsis on those days in southern Ontario - the best part with Lasius pallitarsis is that the workers will be yellow! 

 

Here are some pictures of various formicariums: http://forum.formicu...-and-outworlds/

 

Many of them are flat and will fit on a fridge shelf.  You can just remove the outworld and attach a test tube with hummingbird nectar when the colony gets bigger.

Those all in one formicariums don't work so well with those of us that need to hibernate ants.  Although I did manage to hibernate 2 large all in one nests in one of those plug-in coolers.

 

Hello, they were found about a week ago. I parked my car on driveway after work and I ran into a whole army of them flying about. Unfortunately, I wasn't prepared and could only capture two winged ants with big bellies.

I haven't seen any other mating flights since then. I am unsure which specific species they are but they are Lasius. And, yes, the males were very yellow and shiny. Females seem to be darker and not shiny and 3x bigger.

 

Originally, I placed them in jars with garden soil and they dug into the soil within hours after tearing their wings off. I am hoping that was the indication that they were fertilized.

I moved to glass tubes 4 days later after buying them from a local lab equipment factory around my house.

 

I purchased AntsCanada Omni nest vertical small and it's on its way.

 

 

Edited by dean_k, September 29 2014 - 11:25 AM.

[Crystals]

They will do much better in test tubes.  It will be a while before they need the ant nest (wait until there are at least 25 workers in the test tube).

 

Lasius will need hibernation.  Keep an eye on them for a week, if no eggs appear put them in the fridge until early January (that will also make your Christmas easier). 

If she does happen to lay eggs, then leave her out while she raises them. 

 

It will be easier on both of you if she hibernates before she decides to raise a family.  When she is not in hibernation, try offering a small drop of sugar water every week, she doesn't need it, but it does help a bit with species that hibernate.

[dean_k]

Thanks.

 

They had been in the jars for 4 days before they were relocated and they've been in the tubes for about 3 days now.

 

I noticed that the queens absolutely avoided any contact or lights while they were in jars, so I doubt they will eat anything. I will probably put a queen in a fridge because she seems to be doing nothing but just stand still.

 

The other queen, however, seems fairly active and seems to be drinking a lot from web cottons. She is also cleaning her front legs and antenna a lot. She's just very active. I am not sure what her actions mean at this point but I should just wait for now.

[Crystals]

The actions don't really mean anything.  The one may just like to clean herself a bit more.

 

The hardest part with ants is waiting for the queens to get their first workers. 

[dean_k]

The actions don't really mean anything.  The one may just like to clean herself a bit more.

 

The hardest part with ants is waiting for the queens to get their first workers. 

 

And it seems Lasius queens are not in a rush to start a colony from what I reads over after some googling.

 

My first queens and probably the meanest ones. I have to wait months....

[Mercutia]

Hi fellow Southern Ontario Canadian! I would suggest putting them in a box in the back of your fridge for hibernation. Probably the safest most controlled way to hibernate them.

[dean_k]

O_o

 

Hello, Mercutia. You are here as well?

[Gregory2455]

Dermy, Crystals, Mercutia, Michael of Vancouver, and Mads are all in Canada. I for the record am in Southern California. Welcome to the forum by the way.

[Mercutia]

I'm from the GTA, particularly Mississauga.

[Mads]

Good to see another Canadian on here!

Mads

[dean_k]

I'm from the GTA, particularly Mississauga.

 

You live like 20 minutes away from my location then. That's quite close.

 

Anyhow, thanks for the welcome.

[Mercutia]

Haha yay! We can send each other mating flight notifications!

[dean_k]

Eh, sure, although I am not planning to raise a massive army of ants. I just want a colony really.