4 replies to this topic

[electricv]

I have a lasius  parasitic ant queen but no lasius/lasius nests in my area. Can I use a another similar sized species as a substitute(tetramorrium, etc)

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do not know the other species names

[ponerinecat]

No. This is a behavior among other ants and there is a social parasite on tetramorium, but lasius need lasius. 

[Canadian anter]

No

[Serafine]

Tetramorium and Lasius aren't even in the same overarching family, one is a myrmicine ant the one is a formicine ants - they have been separated for millions of years and don't even speak the same language.

The only thing of that kind I know of is parasitic Formica (like F. sanguinea) which can take certain Lasius species as a host (but then they're still both formicine ants and not that far away from each other).

Edited by Serafine, June 17 2019 - 3:21 AM.

[ponerinecat]

More closely related, but Strongylognathus testaceus parisitizes Tetramorium, and Megalomyrmex adamsae parasitizes Trachymyrmex. This begins to stray into symbiosis, as Megalomyrmex defends against ants like Gamptogenys. In terms of symbiosis, Strumigenys has been found nesting with and helping ants of various other genera, such as Trachymyrmex, and Diacamma, which is a ponerine and not under the same family.