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George's Prenolepis nitens journal

prenolepis nitens

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#1 Offline GeorgeK - Posted March 9 2019 - 2:35 AM

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After a week straight of temperatures being in solid 20*C, yesterday, several hours before rain at around noon I noticed male alates building up on my balcony railing. I decided to take a quick walk down few streets as there are quite a lot oak trees. As soon as I entered street, I could see freshly dug out exits from nest of which all were in ground next to concrete balls that people plant in ground to deter people from parking.
It didn't take me lot of time to notice queens going around, trying to find a place to dig in their nest.

Spoiler

Wingless queen mating for second, maybe third or fourth time.

I've ended up scooping 11 queens in total as it was race against pigeons who really enjoyed the flying feast around them.
I paired up 10 queens in pairs and left one queen alone. One thing I noticed is that all queens but one still keep their wings, even though I saw some of them mate and male detach from them, after which I would collect them.
So far half of queens seem content with their test tube and are on moist cotton, while some seem rather pissy and are pulling on cotton.

Spoiler

Pair of winged and de-winged(?) queens.

Spoiler

Pulling on cotton, trying to get out.

Spoiler

Really just enjoying her time.

Spoiler

Darker shot of other wingless queen.

 

I'm looking forward to eventual success of at least some of the queens I've captured, and hopefully this journal can continue for many more years :)
If you have any tips or info on this species, feel free to PM me or post it here.


Edited by GeorgeK, March 9 2019 - 2:38 PM.

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#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 9 2019 - 3:28 AM

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Good luck with the queens! Are they similar to our winter ants?
My only tip is to add an apostrophe to your name (George’s) in your title. Sorry to be THAT English teacher.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#3 Offline GeorgeK - Posted March 9 2019 - 5:01 AM

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Good luck with the queens! Are they similar to our winter ants?
My only tip is to add an apostrophe to your name (George’s) in your title. Sorry to be THAT English teacher.

No worries. Fixed.


Edited by GeorgeK, March 9 2019 - 1:40 PM.


#4 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted March 9 2019 - 7:11 AM

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Click EDIT post on your original. Then click use full editor.
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#5 Offline Rstheant - Posted March 9 2019 - 9:00 AM

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These are slow growing ants, and make large “repletes”. I wouldn’t make polygenus setups at queen stage, because the queen could die, and the tube could get moldy, etc. I would fuse the colonies after they get workers.

Good luck with the queens! Are they similar to our winter ants?
My only tip is to add an apostrophe to your name (George’s) in your title. Sorry to be THAT English teacher.


:lol: :boast:
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#6 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 16 2019 - 7:57 AM

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Update?

#7 Offline GeorgeK - Posted June 2 2019 - 6:45 AM

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Many queens died so far, but I'm left with three pairs of two queens, all with eggs. I'll post some pics when first workers eclose.


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