4 replies to this topic

[Saltynuts]

Chances of said male mating with the female are very, very slim?  I think that's the case from reading, just wanted to make sure as I have like 10 females that do not appear to have mated because they are not laying eggs (while some are).  

 

Side question - in this species, if they are laying eggs, does this mean they are indeed fertile?  Or is this a species that will lay eggs regardless, they just won't hatch?

 

Thanks everyone!

[ultraex2]

The only way to 100% know for sure if they are fertile is when the first nanitics hatch - an infertile queen can lay eggs that will eclose but they will be male ants.  A fertile queen will eclose workers.

[Saltynuts]

Thanks ultraex2.  I have an ant queen that has had many ants hatch.  They are very, very small, but I've read the first batch of workers generally are since they are not fed very much.  But how can I tell if they are females or males, and what is the consequence of them being males from an infertile female?  Do they still work like females would?  Thanks!

[123LordOfAnts123]

Thanks ultraex2. I have an ant queen that has had many ants hatch. They are very, very small, but I've read the first batch of workers generally are since they are not fed very much. But how can I tell if they are females or males, and what is the consequence of them being males from an infertile female? Do they still work like females would? Thanks!

Solenopsis invicta males are nearly as large as the queen. Reproductives for most ants retain a specific size according to species; there are no smaller males and there are no larger females, small variations aside. Unless ergatoid males occur in a species, males will have wings. They also look drastically different than your average ant.

Edited by 123LordOfAnts123, June 15 2017 - 10:21 AM.

[Saltynuts]

Oh I see Lord!  So if the queen is not fertile, she might still lay eggs, but they will all grow into male alates.  Curious - in the wild in that situation, can those male alates that were lain by an infertile queen themselves swarm and fertilize queens?  Although, I guess in the wild this might never come up because I think the male alates don't really do much work, and without female works the colony is probably doomed from the start.  So interesting.  Thanks!