Hey everyone,
Just yesterday i was outside playing basketball when out of the corner of my eye i saw a winged insect on the ground. At first I thought it was a Tetramorium male, but i quickly identified it as a T. immigrans queen. Now here's a tip for you newer ant keepers: always carry a snap cap vial or collecting container on you. Luckily i was armed with a snap cap vial so i was able to collect her. I know that Tetramorium isn't exactly a "rare" or special genus, but I decided to start this journal anyways as this was my first Tetramorium queen of the year. Last year i collected one tetra queen and she started a colony, so i'm hoping this queen will do the same. Now, back to the journal. I had to leave to go into town right after I caught the queen, so i quickly grabbed a test tube and left her in that while I was gone. When I came back the queen had shedded one wing (Which is a good indication she may be mated). I cleaned out a test tube and prepared it for the queen. After putting her in the water filled test tube, I noticed her wings were getting stuck on the sides and cotton of the test tube. Knowing that this would be an ongoing problem I didn't want to deal with, I grabbed scissors and nipped the problem in the butt. When trimming her wings she didn't get too worked up, and right after I had finished she ran into the test tube without me even having to coax her in. She licked her self a ton while in the test tube, so I think she is happy with the setup. I'm really hoping she will be able to rear a brood and colony. Tetramorium is one of my favourite species as they are very willing to raise colonies in captivity, and I have high hopes for this queen. I will be updating you guys on her progress so please stick around!
(P.S. Sorry that i don't have photos. In my next update I will be sure to include them)
Edited by AntsBC, October 25 2018 - 8:23 PM.
