7 replies to this topic

[jdsaunders1390]

I found an alate on a brick wall in my open carport (the light was on in the carport) at 12 AM in Gainesville, FL. The area is surrounded by houses with small yards and a few trees. 

 

The alate is 14 mm long (my biggest yet!). She has a black gaster and red head and mesosoma. It looks like she has one node with a pretty significant spike.

 

 

[Martialis]

Camponotus sp.

[123LordOfAnts123]

A young alate Camponotus floridanus that shouldn't be out of the nest yet. By the end of June they should start flying in large numbers.

[jdsaunders1390]

Are you saying that she likely hasn't mated yet?

[123LordOfAnts123]

Are you saying that she likely hasn't mated yet?

Correct. You'll be in no hurry to collect queens once the heavy summer rains and warm 80 degree nights roll around, alates and delates are numerous around lights on buildings. Most of the winged queens I've found in these situations have proved fertile.

[jdsaunders1390]

I appreciate the info! I'll keep her around just in case. Also, if a queen lays eggs, does that mean she has definitely mated? I know some animals will lay nonfertile eggs even if they have not mated. I am only curious of the best way to know for sure if a queen is mated or not.

[Canadian anter]

If she lays eggs it's a good sign but if we get larvae it's almost a certain sign

[123LordOfAnts123]

I've had many Camponotus queens raise larvae into males, granted I've had many Camponotus queens. It's normally apparent who's infertile, as queens rearing infertile eggs will often rear a very small brood due to the more demanding nutritional requirements of males, though this is less apparent in species whose males are smaller than workers. However, the majority of un-mated queens will simply never settle down to lay eggs, or if they do, they scatter and rarely care for them.