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Dspdrew's Lasius niger Journal [190] (Discontinued)

dspdrew journal lasius niger

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18 replies to this topic

#1 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 13 2014 - 6:13 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA
9-13-2014
 
On the night of 8-27-2014 I came across a nuptial right of Lasius niger in Ice House Canyon up near Mt. Baldy, California. There were tons of them swarming under every street light and all over my black light. I managed to catch a few of these, but they were all alates still.
 
ID Thread: https://www.formicu....php/topic/479-
 
1. Location of collection:  Ice House Canyon, Mt. Baldy, California.
2. Date of collection:  8-27-2014.
3. Habitat of collection:  Pine/Oak Forest.
4. Length (from head to gaster):  9 mm.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:  Dark redish-brown, with a slightly lighter yellowish-brown gaster and legs.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 
7. Anything else distinctive: Squirts formic acid from gaster (Formicinae).
 
med_gallery_2_246_147133.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_246_111794.jpg
 
med_gallery_2_246_393835.jpg
 
 
One of them decided to tear her wings off the next day, but none of the other did, and still haven't. So far none of them have laid any eggs either.

#2 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 15 2014 - 8:36 PM

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Are they in hibernation yet? I am curious, because if mine turns out to be fertile, this should be trial and error for the two of us. :P



#3 Offline dspdrew - Posted October 15 2014 - 10:49 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 10-15-2014
 
I moved all of these into small foraging containers and put them in hibernation a week ago.



#4 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 15 2014 - 10:55 PM

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Nice, and they did not lay any eggs before hibernation? I am putting mine into hibernation by next Monday. :)



#5 Offline dspdrew - Posted October 16 2014 - 4:22 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Nope, no eggs.



#6 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 16 2015 - 12:34 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 1-16-2015
 
I just took these out of hibernation. All but one were dead.



#7 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 30 2015 - 1:44 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 1-30-2015
 
It looks like the one Lasius niger queen I have left has now laid a few eggs. Let's hope she's fertile.



#8 Offline Miles - Posted January 30 2015 - 4:07 PM

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Are these true Lasius niger?


PhD Student & NSF Graduate Research Fellow | University of Florida Dept. of Entomology & Nematology - Lucky Ant Lab 

 

Founder & Director of The Ant Network. Ant keeper since 2009. Insect ecologist and science communicator. He/Him.


#9 Offline dspdrew - Posted January 30 2015 - 6:05 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

I believe so.

 

Edit: Actually, I have no idea. I just know Dr Trager ID'd these as L. niger.


Edited by dspdrew, March 1 2015 - 4:37 PM.

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#10 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 1 2015 - 4:40 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA
Update 3-1-2015
 
Well it looks like she's most likely fertile. She now has two medium-sized larvae, and one small one. I can see a lot more larvae starting to form too.
 
med_gallery_2_246_253356.jpg
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#11 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 26 2015 - 12:30 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA
Update 3-26-2015
 
This queen just got her first workers. :D
 
med_gallery_2_246_397270.jpg
 
 
Since my Lasius cf. flavus died, I put their brood and one new worker in with these. So far they haven't showed any aggression towards each other, instead both species seem to ignore each other and each other's brood. We'll see what happens.

#12 Offline Trailandstreet - Posted March 26 2015 - 1:41 AM

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A nice little colony. But when this is Lasius niger, is this species (already) in the US too? It looks very similar to ours.


:hi: Franz

if you find any mistakes, it's my autocorrection. it doesn't speak english.


#13 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 26 2015 - 2:12 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

I guess. I think it's believed that it might not be the same. I'm really not sure. I don't know much at all about Lasius.



#14 Offline Trailandstreet - Posted March 26 2015 - 5:43 AM

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I found an article in the english wikipedia and it says, that Lasius niger is also found in north america.

 

Ok, then learnt something new.


:hi: Franz

if you find any mistakes, it's my autocorrection. it doesn't speak english.


#15 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 27 2015 - 5:20 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 3-27-2015
 
They didn't seem to accept that Lasius cf. flavus worker or the brood. I found the worker in pieces, and the eggs and larvae all mangled and shriveled in the same place I set it.

 

The colony now has three workers.



#16 Offline dean_k - Posted March 27 2015 - 5:24 AM

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My belief, according to Crystal, is that Niger and Neoniger are basically identical with Niger from Europe and Neoniger from North America.

 

Lasius Niger was an introduced species from the colonial age in North America and I think they were eventually renamed to Neoniger.

 

Of course, correct me if I am wrong.


Edited by dean_k, March 27 2015 - 5:26 AM.


#17 Offline dspdrew - Posted May 19 2015 - 9:18 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 5-19-2015
 
This colony still have only three workers, and they have eaten all of their new eggs.



#18 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 14 2015 - 1:01 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 6-14-2015
 
I boosted them with what looks like more Lasius niger pupae I found up in Angelus Oaks, and shortly after, the queen laid a few more eggs.



#19 Offline dspdrew - Posted August 25 2015 - 10:21 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 8-25-2015

The boost workers slowly died off, and then the queen.







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