8 replies to this topic

[cfreidsma]

Lasius (flavus?) flew in large numbers today at my yard. When I saw the alert on the Michigan Facebook group I went outside to check, and three colonies were getting ready. Males were visible, and queens would poke their heads out from time to time. I came back outside a little while later, and several nests had queens flying from them.

 

I ended up with 33 queens. Had to order more test tubes. I'm hoping that they are all going to be fertile and do well. It was wonderful being able to see so many queens just flying off into the sky. One colony hadn't even started yet.

 

It may not have impacted anything, but my feeding and carefulness of the wild nests this year makes it feel better to.

 

Here is a short video I took. I didn't notice it was so shaky when I was taking it, but you can still see them.

 

Also, as a side note, are workers from the originating nest safe to keep with the new queens?

 

 

 

Edited by cfreidsma, August 27 2018 - 10:14 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

I caught a Lasius neoniger queen last night. There were males everywhere.

[TheCrazyAntLady]

There are still Lasius Niger queens falling into my pool here in SE KY. Not near as many as last month, where I caught 50+ queens! I had to make so many test tubes...   

[cfreidsma]

Looks like I accidentally put these as neoniger thinking that's what they were for sure. They look more like flavus. Oops. 

 

Either way, still a great flight. 

[cfreidsma]

Got the new set tubes and the queens put in a couple days ago.

[Kaelwizard]

We don't have L. flavus as far as I know. 

[rbarreto]

Lasius flavus/breviconis is present in Michigan.

[cfreidsma]

Ant wiki reports Michigan http://www.antwiki.o...i/Lasius_flavus

[Jamiesname]

All Michigan ants can be found here. . .

http://www.formicult...chigan +species

Also, I tried to start a MI thread last spring, but it may have been too early for people to jump on board and use it. Would you mind p ksting any other nuptial flights on that thread? Obviously you can do what you want, but it would be beneficial to us all if we could start using the same thread.

http://www.formicult...ichigan-anting/