4 replies to this topic

[Alexant]

Hello everybody . I am curious about Lasius niger, particularly the Queen. I have seen that you can start a colony with more than one founding Queen. How many would you say is the limit? Also, which is better, a vertical plaster nest of a horizontal/flat one?

Thank you in advance

 

 

 

Alex

[LC3]

I'd suggest one. Because Lasius niger grows extremely fast and it's likely that the workers will kil all the queens but one or the queens will fight each other eventually.

[Barristan]

Lasius niger is a monogynous species.

But the species can found their colony by pleometrosis. However after the first workers have hatched they will kill all queens except for one (there is also a risk that even the remaining queen will be damaged). I think there is no limit in the number of queens. Someone tried it out with 20 queens as far as I remember with no problems.

It doesn't really matter if you build a vertical or horizontal nest, if you build a vertical one make the chambers deeper and if you build a horizontal one make them wider.

Edited by Barristan, June 25 2015 - 10:47 AM.

[Bardusquus]

Wrong sub-forum buddy.

[Alexant]

Thanks everyone