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How do I add queens to a colony?
Started By
AntaholicAnonymous
, May 31 2020 7:35 PM
polynynous queens queen manica rubida
6 replies to this topic
#1 Offline - Posted May 31 2020 - 7:35 PM
Hey, I have a colony of manica rubida (large European red ant).
They take in queens at a larger colony size and can become polygynous.They are round about 45 to 50 workers so I'll have to wait a bit but does anyone have experience with adding queens?
I wanna know how to raise the odds of them taking her in and not killing her.
If someone has knowledge or an idea let's talk about it
They take in queens at a larger colony size and can become polygynous.They are round about 45 to 50 workers so I'll have to wait a bit but does anyone have experience with adding queens?
I wanna know how to raise the odds of them taking her in and not killing her.
If someone has knowledge or an idea let's talk about it
- Antennal_Scrobe likes this
#2 Offline - Posted June 2 2020 - 4:55 AM
Looks like I'll have to try myself. lol
-I'd guess it's best to give them a lot of space so they don't see her as a threat at the nest entrance area.
-Make sure the colony is large enough to welcome another queen wich is probably in the several hundreds.
-maybe cool the environment a bit to make them less jumpy and aggressive.
-Make sure they have more than enough food available.
-definitely a queen without workers or who's not far into the founding stage. I bet she'd wanna do her own thing once she started off properly.
-I'd guess it's best to give them a lot of space so they don't see her as a threat at the nest entrance area.
-Make sure the colony is large enough to welcome another queen wich is probably in the several hundreds.
-maybe cool the environment a bit to make them less jumpy and aggressive.
-Make sure they have more than enough food available.
-definitely a queen without workers or who's not far into the founding stage. I bet she'd wanna do her own thing once she started off properly.
#3 Offline - Posted June 2 2020 - 6:28 AM
There really seems to be no kind of "tried and tested" method for this in almost any species. My most recent queen introduction was when I introduced a Formica monatana queen to my colony of one queen and ~200 workers. All I did was just throw the queen into the outworld and the workers accepted her. Most likely, many species are going to require more nuance than this. So I guess my conclusion is good luck have fun, hahaha.
- TennesseeAnts, Antennal_Scrobe and AntaholicAnonymous like this
Currently Keeping:
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis
Pheidole pilifera
Forelius sp. (Monogynous, bicolored) "Midwestern Forelius"
Crematogaster cerasi
Pheidole bicarinata
Aphaenogaster rudis
Camponotus chromaiodes
Formica sp. (microgena species)
Nylanderia cf. arenivega
#4 Offline - Posted June 2 2020 - 6:36 AM
I just throw queens in colonies too, and it works great for most (Lasius, Formica, Solenopsis molesta, Ponera pennsylvanica, etc.)There really seems to be no kind of "tried and tested" method for this in almost any species. My most recent queen introduction was when I introduced a Formica monatana queen to my colony of one queen and ~200 workers. All I did was just throw the queen into the outworld and the workers accepted her. Most likely, many species are going to require more nuance than this. So I guess my conclusion is good luck have fun, hahaha.
- Mdrogun and AntaholicAnonymous like this
"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version
#5 Offline - Posted June 4 2020 - 3:08 AM
Yea finding any data about this or my species in general won't get you very far.
I don't mind doing the science myself tho.
In 2 to 3 months I'll get 2 queens and try my luck.
Manica have no concept of being relaxed both queen and the workers so them meeting will be intense for sure
I don't mind doing the science myself tho.
In 2 to 3 months I'll get 2 queens and try my luck.
Manica have no concept of being relaxed both queen and the workers so them meeting will be intense for sure
#6 Offline - Posted June 5 2020 - 7:28 AM
Just make sure they are the same species.
- AntaholicAnonymous likes this
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#7 Offline - Posted June 30 2020 - 8:03 AM
Just make sure they are the same species.
Yea for sure I bought the first off ant store in Germany and I'll get the others there as well.
Manica are native to my area but the queens are hard to come by.
I have a huge terrarium for them so they can't get cornered by workers the queens no doubt win the 1v1 against a woker
Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: polynynous, queens, queen, manica rubida
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