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

Social Parasites?


  • Please log in to reply
4 replies to this topic

#1 Offline matt123 - Posted September 21 2017 - 10:07 AM

matt123

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 42 posts
  • LocationNY

Question regarding social parasite ants...

 

I just went for a quick queen hunt and saw a colony of orange citronella ants (lasius claviger or interjectus) with alates waiting to fly, just north of NYC.

Are these orange ants social parasites?

I wouldn't mind catching a few, I have two tubes unoccupied at the moment. and have a c. pennsylvanicus queen in one who hasn't laid eggs or shed her wings, so she might be realesed soon.

If they are social parasites I don't think I will bother since this is my first year with queen ants, want to get more experience before I start tackling bigger challenges.



#2 Offline Antsinmycloset - Posted September 21 2017 - 10:58 AM

Antsinmycloset

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 129 posts

Citronella certainly are social parasites, yes. If you really want some (And who wouldn't? They're gorgeous) try to get a Lasius alienus or Lasius neoniger queen as soon as you can. If you can get an established colony to collect brood from, it should be pretty smooth sailing. I've been caught unprepared every time I've found parasitic queens, and all ants involved really suffered from my fumbling. You might be able to buy some brood from local anters, too.

 

Here's a great post by Batspiderfish, if you haven't read it yet.



#3 Offline Nathant2131 - Posted September 21 2017 - 11:56 AM

Nathant2131

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,511 posts
  • LocationDracut, Massachusetts

It seems that the parasites of the claviger group (Citronella ants) are much harder to get going than those of the umbratus group.  Good on you if you get a colony going.



#4 Offline ultraex2 - Posted September 21 2017 - 1:41 PM

ultraex2

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 275 posts

More than likely they are, you can generally tell a parasitic Lasius from a fully claustral one by the size of their gaster in comparison to the rest of their body.

 

I could be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure the late-flying parasitic Lasius won't bother to lay any eggs until after they hibernate the following year, so you have plenty of time to find brood/workers from a host colony.



#5 Offline matt123 - Posted September 21 2017 - 2:10 PM

matt123

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 42 posts
  • LocationNY

I think I will pursue it next year. these ants are everywhere, so it's not like I won't have another oppurtunity. Besides, this is my first year doing this, I want to see how my other queens turn out after hibernation.

I used to love turning over rocks as a kid and always saw them a lot.






1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users