6 replies to this topic

[AntsAreUs]

I caught several of these queens in attempts to get them to accept brood from a host colony. I have only gotten this one to do so and she moved them all into the test tube on her own. She opened a pupa over night so she should stay alive unlike my previous attempts. If it comes to it I'll be "raiding" for them if I have the time but for now I'm more worried about getting the Formica rubicunda workers.This species are mostly raiders of Formica subsericea in which I gave her.

 

 

Edited by AntsAreUs, July 20 2018 - 5:44 AM.

[ponerinecat]

I caught one too, but she escaped... Strange, as I found her in a chamber instead of running around.

[AntsAreUs]

I caught one too, but she escaped... Strange, as I found her in a chamber instead of running around.

Yea, these queens can steal pupa from a host colony and make their own nests with it (anyone want to correct me on that?). Although they may most likely just act like a parasitic queen.

Edited by AntsAreUs, July 21 2018 - 1:50 PM.

[AntsAreUs]

I wasn't sure if these were the host eggs or if she just recently laid a few along with some of the host eggs. This shall be a reference image to see whether or not she is laying.

 

[ponerinecat]

There was no brood.

[AntsBC]

If those are her eggs congrats! Raising parasitic queens can be very hard.

[AntsAreUs]

Just went on a massive F. subsericea pupa raid today and gave it to this queen. Also caught a flight of the F. rubicunda.