Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Question about parasitic queen


  • Please log in to reply
23 replies to this topic

#1 Offline DatGaster1306 - Posted October 7 2013 - 9:22 PM

DatGaster1306

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 38 posts

So I have a Lasius claviger queen and she won't take over any of the colonies I've offered.

They're both Tapinoma sessile and one colony has a queen, the other one hasn't for about a few days.



#2 Offline Anhzor - Posted October 7 2013 - 10:07 PM

Anhzor

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 112 posts

lasius can only take over host lasius species.



#3 Offline DatGaster1306 - Posted October 7 2013 - 11:37 PM

DatGaster1306

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 38 posts

Source?



#4 Offline wook - Posted October 8 2013 - 2:18 AM

wook

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 126 posts
  • LocationSarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Parasites can only take over with other species in same genus. Only exception here (as far as I know) is Polyergus.

This is in most cases because communication, appearance, behavior...


...:::]|wook|[:::...


#5 Offline Crystals - Posted October 8 2013 - 5:50 AM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

If you can find a Lasius nest and steal some pupae or newly eclosed workers that will also work.

Almost any Lasius species will work, although some are better for different parasitic Lasius species. 

 

Like wook said, communication and scent are the main barriers.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#6 Offline Mercutia - Posted October 8 2013 - 7:00 AM

Mercutia

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 621 posts
  • LocationToronto, Canada

Parasitic queens prefer specific host species colonies. You can check books like A Field Guide to the Ants of New England if you need sources of this.
 

In the wild, they need specific host colonies however in captivity it has be done introducing non preferred species with some success however all these instances were with colonies within the same genera at least.



#7 Offline DatGaster1306 - Posted October 8 2013 - 7:32 AM

DatGaster1306

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 38 posts

Dang, I have yet to find Lasius where I live.



#8 Offline wook - Posted October 8 2013 - 7:35 AM

wook

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 126 posts
  • LocationSarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

That shouldn't be very hard as they're very common everywhere.


...:::]|wook|[:::...


#9 Offline DatGaster1306 - Posted October 8 2013 - 7:37 AM

DatGaster1306

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 38 posts

Where should I look?



#10 Offline Anhzor - Posted October 8 2013 - 7:40 AM

Anhzor

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 112 posts

if you found a parasite queen then there are host species around.



#11 Offline Mercutia - Posted October 8 2013 - 7:49 AM

Mercutia

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 621 posts
  • LocationToronto, Canada

I had the same problem looking for Lasius species when I caught my own parasitic queen a while back. Most of the ones in my area are completely subterranean.

 

I did catch a few queens a couple weeks ago, but they're going to hibernate before starting a colony.



#12 Offline wook - Posted October 8 2013 - 7:56 AM

wook

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 126 posts
  • LocationSarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

In front of you, watch your step...They're everywhere


...:::]|wook|[:::...


#13 Offline Crystals - Posted October 8 2013 - 9:35 AM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

I have had immense success in turning over bits of wood, especially old firewood.  I have also seen them under rocks.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#14 Offline DatGaster1306 - Posted October 8 2013 - 10:47 AM

DatGaster1306

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 38 posts

Okay so I went out to some woods and found a Lasius colony, grabbed some workers and brood.

Should I hibernate the ants and my queen separately over winter and then introduce them in the spring OR just do it right now?



#15 Offline Mercutia - Posted October 8 2013 - 11:27 AM

Mercutia

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 621 posts
  • LocationToronto, Canada

I'm not sure about whether to overwinter them or not, but here is a common way that ant keepers introduce host colonies to parasitic queens: http://landofants.wo...cial-parasites/

 

Maybe you could hibernate them while putting them together. The cold should make them much more docile and more inclined to accept one another without attacking.



#16 Offline Crystals - Posted October 8 2013 - 11:46 AM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

If you have pupae, those are the best.

If you add too many workers at once, they will likely attack the queen.

 

With Formica, I never succeeded in adding workers without them attacking the queen.  In the end I just added pupae that were ready to eclose and waited.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#17 Offline DatGaster1306 - Posted October 8 2013 - 12:05 PM

DatGaster1306

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 38 posts

How about larvae?



#18 Offline Crystals - Posted October 8 2013 - 12:40 PM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

Larvae and eggs are accepted, but it takes the resources from the queen to raise them.

 

At this time of year, most species are getting ready to hibernate.  In my location, Lasius overwinter the larvae until spring.

 

You may want to research Lasius claviger and how they take over colonies.  I am not sure if they accept workers, if they kill a couple of workers to gain their scent first or how they act.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#19 Offline Crystals - Posted October 8 2013 - 12:44 PM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

From a bit of my research.

You can introduce workers, but it has to be done carefully.

 

Put the workers and queen into seperate vials and put them in the fridge for 3-5 hours.  Then move the workers into the queens vial and place them in the fridge for 2 weeks.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#20 Offline wook - Posted October 8 2013 - 4:35 PM

wook

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 126 posts
  • LocationSarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

From my experience, it's enough just to calm them down (less than 5 minutes in my case) and introduce one by one to the waken queen.

If she feels threaten by any, she will kill it. That's how you can be sure she is safe.


...:::]|wook|[:::...





0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users