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Question on Formica Polygyny

formica subsericea polygyny formica formica polygyny colony fusing queen addition formica queens formica colony

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#1 Offline Mettcollsuss - Posted October 28 2017 - 10:00 AM

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I currently have 4 F. subsericea queens, two without any workers and 2 with 5 workers each. I know that F. subsericea can be polygynous, but I'm not sure how. Do you have to mix queens during the founding stage, or will existing colonies accept new queens? If so, I'm going to try to mix the queens with my 5 worker colonies. And if this is possible, how do I mix them? Should I hibernate the together for a couple hours, of allow them to move in by themselves? Thanks in advance!



#2 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted October 28 2017 - 10:46 AM

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Polygyny is not straightforward, and generally should only be attempted in captivity for species which are characteristically "highly-polygynous". Formica are not really known for founding colonies together, although species often will accept mated daughters back into the nest.


Edited by Batspiderfish, October 28 2017 - 10:46 AM.

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If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

 

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

 

----

Black lives still matter.


#3 Offline MegaMyrmex - Posted October 28 2017 - 6:12 PM

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BatSpiderFish is right. I dom't think I have ever heard of formica being polygynous beyond pleometrosis. The bigger ant species(camponotus, formica, myrmecocystus, etc.) don't really seem to conduct polygyne that much as other smaller smaller species(Solenopsis molesta, temnothorax, pheidole, etc.)

Edited by MegaMyrmex, October 29 2017 - 3:06 PM.

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Proverbs 6:6-8 New International Version (NIV)

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
    consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
    and gathers its food at harvest.

 






Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: formica subsericea, polygyny, formica, formica polygyny, colony fusing, queen addition, formica queens, formica colony

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