Western New York has been unseasonably cold, mid-high 70's most of the summer. I've been keeping all my test-tube queens outside in a partially enclosed porch in a cardboard box in a shaded corner. Our major flight was September 12. I counted ~10 species that flew, and I managed to catch a few different ones. Among the ones I found were Mymrica sp. (rubra?) and Solenopsis molesta.
I only kept 2 Mymrica as they both shed wings. They each reside in a retro-fitted Tupperware, within a test tube with a straw allowing them to exit. Both are alive. Neither has laid any eggs. Is this normal? It was a fairly late flight. This is similarly what is going on with the Solenopsis. I have 4 queens cohabitating in a much smaller tube, I figured they would be more comfortable due to their size. All queens shed wings, no queen has laid eggs.
The Lasius and Crematogaster queens I caught are all alive and not laying, as I was expecting. It seems pretty well documented that these will not be laying until spring. should I be concerned about the Myrmica and Solenopsis, or is it acceptable for them to wait too?
To all of my queens I gave a drop of sugar water this morning. The Crematogasters took the offering eagerly.