15 replies to this topic

[DIsTuRbED]

Hi all, i'm very new to ant keeping but very keen to learn. I live in New Zealand although i'm English. Looking forward to getting to know you all.

 

So I found a queen yesterday who had happened to fly in to the bedroom. The best container I could find was a small jar, so I cut a cotton bud in half and soaked it in water which it clung to for hours. In the evening, perhaps 6 hours after I'd found it, she had shed her wings.

 

Today I went out and bought tubing and cotton buds to create a water/cotton bud/queen/cotton bud set up which I've seen recommended everywhere, however when I got home I found something that looks a lot like it could be lava? I thought this would take weeks. So I have currently put the jar on its side and put it in a kitchen container along with the new set up in hopes that she'd relocate, she has, but it seems she left the questionable mark behind (see picture below).

 

Also i'm pretty sure she's a Lasius Niger but clarification would be fantastic. She was found in Northland, New Zealand.

 

 

Thanks in advance,

 

- DIsTuRbED.

Edited by DIsTuRbED, January 9 2018 - 3:36 PM.

[T.C.]

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[DIsTuRbED]

Hey, should be good now. Sorry about that, it's been a while since i've used a forum.

[Mettcollsuss]

I can't say with 100% certainty, but I'm fairly sure that's Lasius niger. However, the setup she's in is way too big for her to think of it as a founding chamber and lay eggs. You will need something much smaller.

[DIsTuRbED]

Hey, thanks for the reply. This was a temporary solution, the next day I put her in a test tube setup which she has taken to very well.

[T.C.]

Thinking Lasius niger as well.

[DIsTuRbED]

Thanks TC. Any ideas as to what the white goop to the left is? I thoroughly cleaned and sterilized the jar beforehand so it's definitely from her.  I'm thinking poop since she didn't go back for it when she relocated to the test tube. But I thought it would be more... Yellow?

 

Also, before I pack her away in a dark place, would it be a good idea to put a small dab of honey in her tube with a toothpick or not needed?

Edited by DIsTuRbED, January 9 2018 - 4:52 PM.

[T.C.]

Thanks TC. Any ideas as to what the white goop to the left is? I thoroughly cleaned and sterilized the jar beforehand so it's definitely from her.  I'm thinking poop since she didn't go back for it when she relocated to the test tube. But I thought it would be more... Yellow?
 
Also, before I pack her away in a dark place, would it be a good idea to put a small dab of honey in her tube with a toothpick or not needed?

No idea what it is. I would give her a drop right now, leave it her for an hour and tuck it away. Clean it up right after though to avoid mold.

[DIsTuRbED]

Thanks TC, I connected a second tube with the honey so I can remove after a couple of hours and minimize disturbing her. She has a nice dark spot so I'll check on her once a week from now on and leave her in peace.

 

After some more research I'm pretty sure we don't have Lasius Niger in New Zealand. I could be wrong but the lists of species don't show it. So now i'm thinking Ochetellus glaber, perhaps. I'm sure some smart expert will correct me if i'm wrong.

[T.C.]

Thanks TC, I connected a second tube with the honey so I can remove after a couple of hours and minimize disturbing her. She has a nice dark spot so I'll check on her once a week from now on and leave her in peace.
 
After some more research I'm pretty sure we don't have Lasius Niger in New Zealand. I could be wrong but the lists of species don't show it. So now i'm thinking Ochetellus glaber, perhaps. I'm sure some smart expert will correct me if i'm wrong.

To get a more proffesional ID, we need closer photos. Get some close test tube shots.

[Ants_Texas]

Did Lasius niger invade New Zealand? They aren't native there.

[DIsTuRbED]

I'll try and take a clearer/closer picture, but my phone camera blurs when taking closer shots (iphone 6s). I'll look at buying a 10x lens for it or something.

 

And no, they're not native here. It seems that they haven't invaded, only Argentine ants. But she sure does look like a Lasius Niger to me. Interesting.

[drtrmiller]

Iridomyrmex sp. is possible.  Lasius is not present in NZ, but Prolasius is.  Could also be Nylanderia, but the photos are not magnified enough to distinguish certain features.

 

See: http://www.formicult...stralia-300916/

[Batspiderfish]

There's a reason we need an accurate measurement in millimeters too.

[DIsTuRbED]

Well I have found two more identical queens at the entrance to a nest outside our bedroom window. Here is a picture of a dead worker I took, they are very dark, i'm not sure if this helps at all. I will take better pictures of both workers and queens when I get a macro lens hopefully within the next week or so.

 

I'm not sure how I would get an accurate measurement of the queen without causing her stress? She is also VERY fast and jumpy.

 

Thanks again.

 

[AntsNewZealand]

Its a nylanderia sp.