7 replies to this topic

[Jamiesname]

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Alpena, Michigan (northeastern lower pennisula)

2. Date of collection: 9-6-17

3. Habitat of collection: 2x4 board

4. Length (from head to gaster):about 1.5 to 1.7cm (see pic)

5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Black

6. Distinguishing characteristics: Appears to be wing scars where wings were removed

7. Distinguishing behavior:Walking around aimlessly on a 2x4. No other ants present, but is possible that more were inside the board. I banged it on concrete and none fell out though.

8. Nest description: No (visible) nest



My suspicion is that this is a new queen Camponotus pennsylvanicus, which made a chamber in my 2x4 this summer and laid eggs, and possibly has a couple nanitics somewhere in the 2x4. If she's this far along, will she continue to lay eggs in my test tube and re-establish a colony?

Maybe I'm jumping the gun and it's just a major. . . I hope not, I'm sure excited!

Link to pics: https://jamieproulx.smugmug.com/Ants/

Edited by Jamiesname, September 6 2017 - 6:45 PM.

[Spamdy]

This is probably Camponotus pennsylvanicus, 1.5 centimeters is a good sign that's its a queen, also C.pennsylvanicus queens average around that length. Nice catch and good luck!

 

As of posting pictures, you can get onto a third party image hosting site like Imgur, upload it then click on the photo you want to embed here. Click direct link and it will copy the link. Then when you go to edit your original post, click the tree in a box symbol in the second row of your editing screen. Paste the url that you just copied then the image will be generated onto your writing box.

Edited by Spamdy, September 6 2017 - 6:36 PM.

[Jamiesname]

Will it establish/re-establish a colony, or am I better off setting it free and trying again in the spring?

Edited by Jamiesname, September 6 2017 - 6:47 PM.

[T.C.]

It's a queen, and this is more than likely what you have stated.

"My suspicion is that this is a new queen Camponotus pennsylvanicus, which made a chamber in my 2x4 this summer and laid eggs, and possibly has a couple nanitics somewhere in the 2x4. If she's this far along, will she continue to lay eggs in my test tube and re-establish a colony"

I've had this before myself. But she is very skinny. Give her a spider, or some other protein source and some syrup to fatten her up. Although with fall quickly approaching, she could also be a alate that was just pushed out of the nest, that's infertile to save food sources/reserves for the colony. She could also be a fertile queen that failed in the founding process.

[Nathant2131]

Hope she comes through, good luck!

Edited by Nathant2131, September 7 2017 - 2:39 AM.

[Loops117]

C.pennsylvanicus and YAY! Another Michigander

[Jamiesname]

Thanks for the confirmation. This is the first queen I've found and I really want it to work out. I'm going to keep her warm and feed her, hopefully she lays a few eggs.

If she is infertile and was kicked out of the nest to preserve resources, would she have removed her wings?

[T.C.]

Not always, but yes, they still have been known to remove their wings despite being infertile.