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Mating in Captivity

Started By Tspivey16 , Oct 28 2014 3:56 AM

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#1 Offline Tspivey16 - Posted October 28 2014 - 3:56 AM

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All,

 

Very interesting observation yesterday that I wanted to share. It appears that my  Aphaenogaster tennesseensis are mating in the nest. I had suspected this before, but now have caught this on camera. This was a wild caught nest that only had alates, and one of the queens had started laying eggs after shedding her wings in the nest. Now, the other queen in the nest appears to now have mated. After mating, she now appears to havea  following in a seperate chamber in the nest - while the other queen and her eggs still inhahabit the biggest portion.Will be interesting to watch to see if the eggs develop.

 

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Current Colonies:

                               Aphaenogaster tennesseensis (50 Workers)

                               Formica subsericea (5+ Workers)

                               Tetramorium caespitum (50+ Workers)

                               Parastic Lasius (15 Accepted Host Workers)

                               Crematogaster cerasi (10 + Workers)

                               Temnothorax sp. (70 + workers)

 

#2 Offline James C. Trager - Posted October 28 2014 - 5:34 AM

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Interesting. You may want to divide the colony into as many groups fertile queens that you have. In view of their parasitic tendency, it wouldn't surprise if queen rivalry and fighting to death are in the nature of these queens. 


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#3 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 28 2014 - 6:41 AM

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Wow, pretty cool!


#4 Offline Crystals - Posted October 28 2014 - 8:16 AM

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Did there seem to be any sort of trigger?

Like heat or recent watering?


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List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies

#5 Offline Tspivey16 - Posted October 28 2014 - 8:32 AM

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No, I have never heated the nest, and didn't water until after I observed this. It was like she released some sort of scent, because the males in the nest all were approaching her area.


Current Colonies:

                               Aphaenogaster tennesseensis (50 Workers)

                               Formica subsericea (5+ Workers)

                               Tetramorium caespitum (50+ Workers)

                               Parastic Lasius (15 Accepted Host Workers)

                               Crematogaster cerasi (10 + Workers)

                               Temnothorax sp. (70 + workers)

 

#6 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted October 28 2014 - 1:07 PM

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Did you put queens or drones in the colony?


#7 Offline DesertAntz - Posted October 28 2014 - 3:53 PM

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This is inbreeding, correct? 


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#8 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 28 2014 - 4:02 PM

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Seemingly, but it is not genetically harmful to ants as it is to mammals and such, I think. Linepithema humile always inbreed.


#9 Offline dean_k - Posted October 28 2014 - 4:32 PM

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Man, this is Ant keeper's dream come true.


#10 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 28 2014 - 4:36 PM

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I KNOW RIGHT?! :D


#11 Offline dean_k - Posted October 28 2014 - 4:45 PM

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Of course, it means his colony has matured and is 100% successful. It's like a graduation certificate for ant keepers.


#12 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 28 2014 - 4:48 PM

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I think this is the producing queen being mated with though...


#13 Offline Tspivey16 - Posted October 29 2014 - 4:00 AM

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This actually was a wild caught colony - that I think only had alates when I got them home. I think this happened before in this nest, as there is one other queen in the nest who I observed doing the same (didn't get the photos then), and now has a batch of eggs. There is this 2nd queen in the nest that still survives that I just observed this with.

 

Next is to closely watch the egg development to see if indeed this colony will get kickstarted internally.


Current Colonies:

                               Aphaenogaster tennesseensis (50 Workers)

                               Formica subsericea (5+ Workers)

                               Tetramorium caespitum (50+ Workers)

                               Parastic Lasius (15 Accepted Host Workers)

                               Crematogaster cerasi (10 + Workers)

                               Temnothorax sp. (70 + workers)

 

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