13 replies to this topic

[Lazarus]

Help!

I have two Lasius founding colonies in separate test tubes and the queen died in one of them.

 

Both queens were caught the same day and the same general location. They were caught mid August.

If I bridge the two test tubes will the workers with the dead queen join the living queen and her brood? Will they bring along the eggs, larvae and pupa?

Or will trying to join them result in conflict or it's just plain futile to try it all? I'm unsure why the queen died but it was a queen that retained her wings and has them even now. I have been giving all my founding colonies the same food at the same time. Could I risk bringing a disease to the other colony?

If it matters, the one that the queen died has 16 workers and the one which is still alive has 12 workers.
I think they are neonigers but unsure of that.

Should I wait a while first? If so, how long?

I just hate to think that without their queen I now have to wait and watch that founding colony die.

[Mettcollsuss]

Lasius species will not accept new workers. However, if you are sure that they're the same species of Lasius, you can give the daed queen's brood to your healthy colony. Lasius take very well to brood boosting.

[Lazarus]

I've read a bit about this 'boosting' but not completely clear on what it entails.

Does it mean I remove the workers from the dead queen and place the brood (eggs, larva, pupa) within reach of the healthy colony and they will pick up the brood by themselves? Or do I have to try to put those eggs, larva and pupa as close to those of the healthy brood myself? (Both colonies are still in test tubes).

I assume this just means the healthy colony will have a boost when all those new eggs, larva and pupa eclose and the healthy colony gets a quick boost in numbers. I was planning on trying to hibernate these colonies soon as I live in Canada and it's starting to get chilly outside.

[Scrixx]

I've read a bit about this 'boosting' but not completely clear on what it entails.

Does it mean I remove the workers from the dead queen and place the brood (eggs, larva, pupa) within reach of the healthy colony and they will pick up the brood by themselves? Or do I have to try to put those eggs, larva and pupa as close to those of the healthy brood myself? (Both colonies are still in test tubes).

I assume this just means the healthy colony will have a boost when all those new eggs, larva and pupa eclose and the healthy colony gets a quick boost in numbers. I was planning on trying to hibernate these colonies soon as I live in Canada and it's starting to get chilly outside.

 

You just put them somewhere easily accessible by the accepting colony. Like right in front of the nest entrance. Assuming it's the same species they'll be like, "wtf are these larvae doing out here?" as they bring them to the brood pile.

[Lazarus]

Given that both colonies are in test tubes, I just get rid of the workers in the tube where the queen died and then just connect the tubes together for a while?

Here's a morbid question. What do I do with the workers from the dead queen colony? If they die will other ants eat them? I assume they are a good source protein and it seemed that my founding colonies all enjoyed the one time I gave each a fruit fly. Are ants cannibals like that? My other founding colonies are 4 Camponotus ones. Would they eat the Lasius workers because they are so much bigger?

[MrPurpleB]

Given that both colonies are in test tubes, I just get rid of the workers in the tube where the queen died and then just connect the tubes together for a while?

Here's a morbid question. What do I do with the workers from the dead queen colony? If they die will other ants eat them? I assume they are a good source protein and it seemed that my founding colonies all enjoyed the one time I gave each a fruit fly. Are ants cannibals like that? My other founding colonies are 4 Camponotus ones. Would they eat the Lasius workers because they are so much bigger?

You can continue to keep the workers as a queenless colony and wait for them to die naturally or you can just kill them yourself through pesticides, boiling, freezing, etc. You can feed them to your other colonies but I would not find worker ants as a reliable source of protein or them having much nutritional value. . 

[Connectimyrmex]

Keep them! You can offer them to a Lasius claviger or umbratus queen next spring or this winter.

[Russell]

I have merged colonies but I chill both test tubes down otherwise the workers and queen may fight. I chill both test tubes down in freezer or fridge for 10-15 min or until all workers and queen are knocked out. Then I tape test tubes together and pull from fridge and when they wake they tend to think the new queens is theirs. Worked several times for me however on a rare occasion they fight and I have to knock them out again and try again. 

[MegaMyrmex]

If I were you I'd go out and catch soke L. Claviger or L. Imbratus and try a social parasite colony.

[Connectimyrmex]

If I were you I'd go out and catch soke L. Claviger or L. Imbratus and try a social parasite colony.

This is literally exactly what I said

[Lazarus]

Opted to try boosting. Managed to separate the ants from the brood from the tube with the dead queen and then managed to place the brood pile at the entrance of the tube with the healthy colony. Now the waiting game to see if they take in the brood.

[Lazarus]

They scooped up the brood with the hour and placed them with their own. That was fast! Glad that I could at least save them.

[MegaMyrmex]

If I were you I'd go out and catch soke L. Claviger or L. Imbratus and try a social parasite colony.

This is literally exactly what I said

Haha, sorry😅but I just wanted to bring your point a bit more forwards

[Connectimyrmex]

 

 

If I were you I'd go out and catch soke L. Claviger or L. Imbratus and try a social parasite colony.

This is literally exactly what I said

Haha, sorrybut I just wanted to bring your point a bit more forwards

 

Oh. Its fine, my bad.