11 replies to this topic

[TennesseeAnts]

These are a type of eusocial paper wasp that is found absolutely everywhere here in the South. They are a kind of burnt orange in color and are twice as large as a C. pennslyvanicus queen. I found a nest and a queen in a mailbox, and she was probably going to get sprayed with pesticides, so I saved her. Her nest is only 3 cells big right now, but I hope to grow her colony to a nice size before Winter. I have her in a box outside with a hole in the side so she can forage for here own food, nest materials, etc. I do give her honey and crickets occasionally though.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, May 30 2019 - 4:49 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Last night, I fired up my grill for the first time this season and found out that a paper wasp had set up shop in my grilling glove. Ouch!
Good luck with this queen.

Edited by ANTdrew, April 15 2019 - 9:27 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Last night, I fired up my grill for the first time this season and found out that a paper wasp had set up shop in my grilling glove. Ouch!
Good luck with this queen.

Did you ID her? Was it Polistes carolina?

[ponerinecat]

no need for crickets until larvae arrive.

[TennesseeAnts]

Yeah funny story. I saw that she had eggs in two cells, so I opened the port. I found her today in the mailbox again with a new nest. I guess this is a wild colony journal now!

[dermy]

Yeah funny story. I saw that she had eggs in two cells, so I opened the port. I found her today in the mailbox again with a new nest. I guess this is a wild colony journal now!

This is what happens when you relocate either from a) not far enough away or b- when the nest is very young and isn't as "appealing" for the queen to keep going rather then sprinting off for freedom, most cases it's best to wait till she has at least some mid sized larvae. Capped brood is usually a good deal since they have already established their nests and are less likely to abandon them. I've also heard that you should if possible keep them contained for around 24-48hrs [feeding them of course!] before releasing them to free-range.

[TennesseeAnts]

She was in there for about 72 hours.

[TennesseeAnts]

5-1-19

I got a new queen of an unidentified species. She is smaller than the last one, and is red and black. She has a bigger nest at around 10-12 cells. And some have medium sized larvae and eggs! Pics coming shortly.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, May 1 2019 - 6:00 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

How often and what should I feed her and her larvae?
She does not want crickets.

[TennesseeAnts]

I caught queen #1 adding a new cell.

[ponerinecat]

How often and what should I feed her and her larvae?
She does not want crickets.

 

Most wasps prefer caterpillars and flying insects, and they tend to forage daily, unlike ants. Founding queens actually usually spend more than 3/4 of their time off the nest.

[TennesseeAnts]

Yeah she took a mealworm and a caterpillar and a cricket.