5 replies to this topic

[Lazarus]

Here is a queen that was found over a month ago. The pics are both recent and from a few weeks ago.

1. Location of collection:
Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

2. Date of collection (more important for ID's of queens):
Caught mid-August

3. Habitat of collection (ie: desert scrub, oak forest, riparian, etc.).
City Sidewalk

4. Length:
Queen: 10mm

5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture:
Very dark and only a hint of a golden sheen on the gasker

6. Distinguishing characteristics:
Winged! Still has them with over a dozen eggs that seem to be growing.

Dario

 

Album: Unknown Species 2 Winged Queen

9 images

0 comments

 

[VoidElecent]

Your queen seems to be Lasius.

[Lazarus]

Thanks.

 

Is it usual for Lasius queens to keep her wings like that? I vaguely recall reading that queens may not remove them immediately before beginning to lay eggs, but this is now well over a month. Will she eventually remove them or keep them permanently?

[Mettcollsuss]

I have had queens keep their wing through the founding process many times. In rare cases the queen will keep her wings for many years, but usually the nanitics will try to cut the wing off. I have two F. subseeicea queens that kept one of their four wings. Once the nanitics came, they attempted to remove the wing. They didn't get it off of either queen, but they did trim it down to half length, so that it's not protruding off her back and making an obstacle. I also have a L. alienus queen who kept her wings.

[Lazarus]

Over 2 and a half months since capture of queen and now with 9 workers. Wings still on.

[TennesseeAnts]

Possibly Lasius Neoniger?