664 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

Maybe you could suck up the alates and some workers with an aspirater and put them in a smaller nest outside?

That's actually an awesome idea!

[Roachant]

Wow, this journal is impressive! I just ordered a crematogaster queen and I hope I have as much luck as you do!

[ANTdrew]

Wow, this journal is impressive! I just ordered a crematogaster queen and I hope I have as much luck as you do!

Learn from my mistakes, and you’ll be set. Good luck!

[Boog]

Yeah, I'm wondering what I'll do when my Camponotus colony starts getting alates. I guess I'll observe their initial whereabouts and am thinking about separating them from the colony if it seems appropriate. I'll use a little keyboard vacuum that's gentle enough to suck up the ants then either put them in a nest or freeze the poor buggers as feeders for other colonies, maybe?

[Antkeeper01]

Yeah, I'm wondering what I'll do when my Camponotus colony starts getting alates. I guess I'll observe their initial whereabouts and am thinking about separating them from the colony if it seems appropriate. I'll use a little keyboard vacuum that's gentle enough to suck up the ants then either put them in a nest or freeze the poor buggers as feeders for other colonies, maybe?

just release the alates in a nupital flight

[ANTdrew]

Yeah, I'm wondering what I'll do when my Camponotus colony starts getting alates. I guess I'll observe their initial whereabouts and am thinking about separating them from the colony if it seems appropriate. I'll use a little keyboard vacuum that's gentle enough to suck up the ants then either put them in a nest or freeze the poor buggers as feeders for other colonies, maybe?

I’ll try this outdoor satellite nest idea and report back to you guys. Ideally, it will give them an opportunity to fly and join the local gene pool. I’ll cry tears of joy if that happens.

[Kaelwizard]

 

Yeah, I'm wondering what I'll do when my Camponotus colony starts getting alates. I guess I'll observe their initial whereabouts and am thinking about separating them from the colony if it seems appropriate. I'll use a little keyboard vacuum that's gentle enough to suck up the ants then either put them in a nest or freeze the poor buggers as feeders for other colonies, maybe?

just release the alates in a nupital flight

 

Thing is you would have to either know exactly when flights will happen or just be prepared and hope you don't miss them.

[ANTdrew]

Yeah, I’m finding it’s really not that simple.

[futurebird]

Don't alates need workers to feed them? or will they drink nectar from a feeder on their own? I've heard that male alates can be pretty useless at self care. 

 

As for the colony being paused they may be waiting for the pheromone signal from the other colonies that it's time to fly... but being inside they can't get it. 

 

Perhaps with the reproductives removed they might move on? 

 

Or if you know of local flying colonies try to catch some wild males and expose them to their scent? The males set the whole thing off in some species flying first... but IDK about crematogasters. 

[ANTdrew]

I have a big update coming, but suffice to say, my Divas staged a nuptial flight.

[Boog]

[ANTdrew]

Update 8/25/2021

 

My beloved Divas have come full circle! I followed through with DDD101DDD's simple, yet elegant idea of creating a satellite setup outside with some of my queen alates and workers to care for them. I made the satellite in an old AC outworld I had. I removed the top and fashioned a base for a stick to reach up above the rim using Perfect Cast. I lined the edge and rim with fluon and added about 15 queens and thirty or so workers.

 

A wild colony was putting out males on the day I added them, and some of the queens were trying to fly, albeit unsuccessfully. I left the setup outside after day one, not knowing if it would work or not. I had my first day of teaching on Monday, and when I returned, I found some great signs! All the workers were still in the setup, but all but three of the queens were gone! The only logical conclusion is that they were able to climb up the stick and perform a nuptial flight! Who knows what will become of them, but one can always hope and dream for the best!

I've continued adding in additional queens when I can aspirate them out of their Nucleus outworld.

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Edited by ANTdrew, August 25 2021 - 8:35 AM.

[Daniel]

That's awesome!

[ANTdrew]

That's awesome!

Thank you, my friend. At least several new queens flew out today.

[TacticalHandleGaming]

I love that you actually got your elates to fly. So freaking cool.

[ANTdrew]

I love that you actually got your elates to fly. So freaking cool.

I’m elated!

[AntBoi3030]

I love that you actually got your elates to fly. So freaking cool.

I’m elated!

That pun deflated my sense of humor lol

[nurbs]

Haha that's cool.

 

Update 8/25/2021

 

My beloved Divas have come full circle! I followed through with DDD101DDD's simple, yet elegant idea of creating a satellite setup outside with some of my queen alates and workers to care for them. I made the satellite in an old AC outworld I had. I removed the top and fashioned a base for a stick to reach up above the rim using Perfect Cast. I lined the edge and rim with fluon and added about 15 queens and thirty or so workers.

 

A wild colony was putting out males on the day I added them, and some of the queens were trying to fly, albeit unsuccessfully. I left the setup outside after day one, not knowing if it would work or not. I had my first day of teaching on Monday, and when I returned, I found some great signs! All the workers were still in the setup, but all but three of the queens were gone! The only logical conclusion is that they were able to climb up the stick and perform a nuptial flight! Who knows what will become of them, but one can always hope and dream for the best!

I've continued adding in additional queens when I can aspirate them out of their Nucleus outworld.

[ANTdrew]

Update 9-2-2021
Happy Nuptial Day to you, Happy Nuptial Day to you, Happy Nuptial Day, dear Sigyn, Happy Nuptial Day to you...
Three wild years have passed since I found my Crematogaster queen, Sigyn, scuttling across a picnic table on this date in 2018. The colony has had great success, and even staged a nuptial flight this year. This is a tribute to this top-notch colony on this anniversary of sorts. Here's to many more years!

Current state of their Nucleus:


A look at their new outworld and CrematoTemple:



A tour of the whole sprawling setup:



And finally, a YouTube video of a queen flying off from my patio setup:

Edited by ANTdrew, September 2 2021 - 11:20 AM.

[azzaaazzzz00]

Wooooooooooo! Cograts, Sigyn!!