38 replies to this topic

[Mettcollsuss]

I caught this Lasius cf. neoniger queen last fall. I pulled her out of hibernation about 2 months ago. She now has a healthy pile of brood and it looks like the nanitics are just a few days away! I'm looking forward to keeping this species. If anyone has tips or advice on keeping this ant, let me know.

 

Here are some photos I took yesterday.

 

 

 

 

Edited by Mettcollsuss, December 3 2018 - 2:44 PM.

[AntsMaryland]

Lucky!!! I have 4 Lasius cf. neoniger queens and they have larvae that are very close to pupating... I can't wait!

 

Keep us updated!!!

 

Can't wait to see how your colony turns out!!

 

Good Luck!!

Edited by AntsMaryland, March 11 2018 - 4:55 PM.

[AntsMaryland]

Any updates anytime soon? 

[AntsAreUs]

If anyone has tips or advice on keeping this ant, let me know.

They should be pretty easy to keep. I wouldn't feed anything alive to them except fruit flies as they are opportunists where I live.

Edited by AntsAreUs, March 23 2018 - 4:30 PM.

[Mettcollsuss]

3-30-18

Alright, I just got back from a trip, and she has a nanitic! It's much smaller than I expected and still very pale. Some of the pupae are very dark, so I'm expecting more nanitics soon. When her pigment sets in, I'll get a positive ID on the species. Pics coming soon!

[AntsMaryland]

3-30-18

Alright, I just got back from a trip, and she has a nanitic! It's much smaller than I expected and still very pale. Some of the pupae are very dark, so I'm expecting more nanitics soon. When her pigment sets in, I'll get a positive ID on the species. Pics coming soon!

Lucky!!!

One of my Lasius cf neoniger workers has 3 brown pupae. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THEM TO HATCH...

 

I want to know the species...

 

It's like opening a box of chocolates and you accidentally threw away that card that says what chocolate is what...

 

you never know what you're gonna get...

[Mettcollsuss]

3-31-18

Two nanitics now!

[AntsMaryland]

3-31-18

Two nanitics now!

Lucky...

 

I'm now really antsy about my nanatics hatching! (haha, puns!)

 

Oh and...

 

I WANT PICTURES!!!

Edited by AntsMaryland, March 31 2018 - 5:36 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Mine have had eggs since late January to early February. No development at all. Any advice?

[AntsMaryland]

I had this issue. Put them near a heating mat.

[Mettcollsuss]

4-1-18

4 WORKERS YAY!

I gave them a fruit fly today. The workers did nothing about it (although one or two ran around in a panic) while the queen was the one to formic acid it and hive it to the larvae.

I still can't get over the size difference between the queen and the nanitics! Pics coming REALLY SOON.

[AntsMaryland]

4-1-18

4 WORKERS YAY!

I gave them a fruit fly today. The workers did nothing about it (although one or two ran around in a panic) while the queen was the one to formic acid it and hive it to the larvae.

I still can't get over the size difference between the queen and the nanitics! Pics coming REALLY SOON.

You're SO lucky...

 

One of my Lasius neoniger queens has 3 pupae. But they haven't hatched yet. There a nice brown color. So they should hatch soon. SO IMPATIENT. 

[Mettcollsuss]

4-2-18

They have accepted the fruit fly and are feeding it to the larvae. When I gave them honey, the queen came over to drink it and then distributed it to the workers. Pictures coming as soon as my dumb camera actually backs the photos up.

[noebl1]

I find my now ~2 year old colonies will readily take fruit flies (even kill them if not dead yet) and Sunburst nectar, but still dumb founded by even tiny meal worms.  They will attempt to push/pull it into their test tube, but never quite make it in and after a couple days eventually give up on it. The meal worms are quite small (maybe .5"), so not a huge deal.  In contrast my Tetramorium colonies, with the same size meal worm, have no problem navigating them into the nest, then removing them totally hollowed out about 36-48h later.

 

I saw in the other thread the protein goo,  I was going to give it a shot with the Lasius as they are scavengers:

http://www.formicult...-feeding-video/

Edited by noebl1, April 2 2018 - 4:45 AM.

[Mettcollsuss]

4-5-18

Her Royal Highness still only has four minions, but several more pupae are about to eclose. The workers start to "jump" and lunge at some imaginary target whenever I shine a light on them, move the tube for feeding, etc.

Certainly a lot of personality in these ants.

[Mettcollsuss]

Question: at what size would it be okay to take a few workers and some brood for my parasitic queen?

[AntsMaryland]

Once they get to about 50-70 workers. Try just going around outside and flipping over some rocks and see if you can find a colony of lasius. Much easier.

[AntsMaryland]

How many days did it take for your workers to hatch from pupae (roughly)? I'm still waiting...

[Mettcollsuss]

How many days did it take for your workers to hatch from pupae (roughly)? I'm still waiting...

not sure exactly, but they were very dark (almost brown) for at least a week before eclosing.

Edited by Mettcollsuss, April 5 2018 - 12:47 PM.

[noebl1]

How many days did it take for your workers to hatch from pupae (roughly)? I'm still waiting...

 

I don't heat mine, and they seem to take forever.  I took my 2016 colonies out in early March, been feeding them regularly, and last year's brood still not close yet   I found last year it took several weeks.  I took at look at the alates / dealates from the Fall that laid, and several of them have very small larvae, but can tell they have weeks to go.