4 replies to this topic

[Ants_Texas]

DISLAIMER: I caught a Solenopsis invicta queen (I couldn't find S. geminata for my life), so that I can keep a super agressive colony for a while. Once I'm done with them, I'm going to freeze them and use them as fertilizer for some plants. I will not release them or their alates into the wild.

 

The queen now has eggs, and maybe a couple larvae. Is it safe to introduce another queen, so long as she doesn't have workers?

Edited by Ants_Texas, January 20 2018 - 3:02 PM.

[Solenoqueen]

Do NOT do that. Solenopsis queens will basically fight eachother until one dies. Either way, they will both probably get injured.

[Mettcollsuss]

Solenopsis invicta is pleometroic. The queens will get along until the workers arrive, then they will begin to fight. They very rarely kill each other fighting, as once this behavior surfaces, the workers will pick off all but one queen.

[drtrmiller]

Solenopsis invicta is pleometroic.

Right idea. It is somewhat rare to see the term used as an adjective, however, and is typically expressed as the noun "pleometrosis." We would probably be more correct in saying S. invicta may found by pleometrosis or haplometrosis, but only polygyne variants will tolerate multiple gynes beyond the incipient stage of colony founding.

Edited by drtrmiller, January 27 2018 - 4:01 PM.

[Mettcollsuss]

 

Solenopsis invicta is pleometroic.

Right idea. It is somewhat rare to see the term used as an adjective, however, and is typically expressed as the noun "pleometrosis." We would probably be more correct in saying S. invicta may found by pleometrosis or haplometrosis, but only polygyne variants will tolerate multiple gynes beyond the incipient stage of colony founding.

 

 Haplometrosis?