Jump to content

  • Gallery
  • Members
  • Member Map
  • 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

First bumblebee queens of the year

Started By ANTdrew , Mar 14 2020 7:01 AM

  • Please log in to reply
83 replies to this topic

#41 Offline ANTdrew - Posted November 5 2020 - 4:36 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 10,282 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Females can sting, but very rarely do. I pet them all the time because it makes me happy.
  • FSTP and Ants_Dakota like this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#42 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted November 5 2020 - 4:44 PM

Swirlysnowflake

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,155 posts
  • LocationBay Area, CA

Females can sting, but very rarely do. I pet them all the time because it makes me happy.

this is literally why i want them they are friendly fluffy jellybeans of happiness 


  • Ants_Dakota and Spazmops like this

 My YouTube channel :)

 

 

#43 Offline ANTdrew - Posted November 5 2020 - 5:24 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 10,282 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
The best thing to do then is to make a native plant garden. Plant a mix of species that will have blooms from spring through fall. The goal is to have something in bloom at all times.
  • Swirlysnowflake likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#44 Offline ponerinecat - Posted November 5 2020 - 5:32 PM

ponerinecat

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,650 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

When the gynes come out in spring it's always fun to pick em up and walk them around on your hands, some of the most docile hymenopterans I've met.


  • Ants_Dakota and Swirlysnowflake like this

#45 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted November 5 2020 - 5:33 PM

Swirlysnowflake

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,155 posts
  • LocationBay Area, CA

When the gynes come out in spring it's always fun to pick em up and walk them around on your hands, some of the most docile hymenopterans I've met.

aww that sounds so cute! and btw, what are gynes? 


 My YouTube channel :)

 

 

#46 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted November 17 2020 - 9:51 AM

Kaelwizard

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,852 posts
  • LocationPoway, California

 

When the gynes come out in spring it's always fun to pick em up and walk them around on your hands, some of the most docile hymenopterans I've met.

aww that sounds so cute! and btw, what are gynes? 

 

Reproductives I think.


#47 Offline ANTdrew - Posted November 17 2020 - 10:02 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 10,282 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA

Just a fancy way to say queens.


"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#48 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted November 17 2020 - 10:05 AM

Ants_Dakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,608 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

i am literally going to need to make my bee allergic neighbor move out if you keep talking! it sounds so awesome to keep bees!


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

My Lasius sp. Journal

My Micro Ants Journal

#49 Offline ANTdrew - Posted November 24 2020 - 7:06 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 10,282 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA

Unseasonable warmth continues here in VA, and I saw this beauty of a queen lounging on the last of my Echinacea:

 

 
 

 


  • Swirlysnowflake and KitsAntVa like this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#50 Offline KitsAntVa - Posted November 24 2020 - 7:28 AM

KitsAntVa

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,254 posts
  • LocationRichmond, Virginia

yea down here it was about 50-60 despite being in winter for around a week and then at night it got to like 30 degrees. climate change is confusing.


We don’t talk about that

#51 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted November 24 2020 - 9:53 AM

Swirlysnowflake

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,155 posts
  • LocationBay Area, CA

that's adorable <3


 My YouTube channel :)

 

 

#52 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 14 2021 - 7:19 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 10,282 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Just saw my first Bombus impatiens queen right on schedule. She stopped to feed a bit on a daffodil and flew off before I could get a photo.
  • TennesseeAnts likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#53 Offline Antcatcherpro3 - Posted March 14 2021 - 7:54 AM

Antcatcherpro3

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 637 posts
  • LocationBoston, MA

Its been warm here the last few days, so I've seen bees out because the flowers are opening up, but yesterday and today it's gotten colder. Once it warms up here again, I will start looking for some bee queens.


#54 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted March 14 2021 - 11:28 AM

Swirlysnowflake

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,155 posts
  • LocationBay Area, CA

i can’t wait until queens start showing up here...


  • ZTYguy likes this

 My YouTube channel :)

 

 

#55 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted March 15 2021 - 5:56 AM

Kaelwizard

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,852 posts
  • LocationPoway, California

I wish I could keep them. Maybe at my cabin I could find a hollow log or something and hope to find a queen to introduce to it. That way I could watch the colony without actually keeping them.


#56 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted March 15 2021 - 7:08 AM

Swirlysnowflake

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,155 posts
  • LocationBay Area, CA

I wish I could keep them. Maybe at my cabin I could find a hollow log or something and hope to find a queen to introduce to it. That way I could watch the colony without actually keeping them.

Why are you unable to keep them?


Edited by Swirlysnowflake, March 15 2021 - 7:08 AM.

 My YouTube channel :)

 

 

#57 Offline antsandmore - Posted March 15 2021 - 7:28 AM

antsandmore

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 705 posts
  • LocationSan Diego California

i can’t wait until queens start showing up here...

me too. These things are so cute. I just need somewhere to house them in. what's the best thing to use?


Ants I am keeping:

 none for now, planning on being more active this year

#58 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted March 15 2021 - 8:23 AM

Swirlysnowflake

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,155 posts
  • LocationBay Area, CA

 

i can’t wait until queens start showing up here...

me too. These things are so cute. I just need somewhere to house them in. what's the best thing to use?

 

When you are founding a queen, a small plastic or wooden box works. After the colony gets bigger, you’ll need a larger wooden box. There’s a great pdf on how to rear bumblebees, if I can find it I’ll link it here.


 My YouTube channel :)

 

 

#59 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 15 2021 - 8:29 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 10,282 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
The tricky part is getting fresh bee pollen to feed the queen before her workers start foraging. That’s why I’ve never tried it. I don’t have time to visit 400 flowers a day.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#60 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted March 15 2021 - 8:53 AM

Kaelwizard

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,852 posts
  • LocationPoway, California

 

I wish I could keep them. Maybe at my cabin I could find a hollow log or something and hope to find a queen to introduce to it. That way I could watch the colony without actually keeping them.

Why are you unable to keep them?

 

My parents would never let me do that. They are fine with ants tho.


Back to General


1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users