5 replies to this topic

[PTAntFan]

I took a short walk up in Wildwood Cyn today, which is right here in Burbank.  I was disappointed to see Argies everywhere I went, but as dusk started to settle in I came across a colony that was swarming.  It was exciting to see some reproductives finally this year.  I think all I saw were males, but hard to tell in the light.  I took video and will eventually post to my SkyDrive share below.

[Myrmicinae]

Only the males fly in L. humile.  The queens, although they are winged, are apparently unable to take flight.  

 

L. humile alates typically mate within the nest, but some genetic diversity is still maintained, as colonies will accept males from other distant nests.

Edited by Myrmicinae, April 26 2015 - 8:25 PM.

[Alza]

some of my males mated inside the colony, after I wet the whole formicarium.

and prier to that, it was misted a lot 

[Vendayn]

I've seen queens of this species take off and fly on occasion. It seems really rare, and they only fly a few feet, so I don't see the point in them doing that at all. Also, it seemed it was only one small area the queens did this in, as other colonies around did their normal thing. Maybe an old instinct or something. But, I'd think they'd spend less energy walking a few feet than actually flying such a short distance. Though it was only one small area I saw queens do this in...all the other Argentine ant colonies around didn't do it. I think it was only one single colony for some reason.

Edited by Vendayn, April 27 2015 - 11:15 AM.

[Myrmicinae]

I've seen queens of this species take off and fly on occasion. It seems really rare, and they only fly a few feet, so I don't see the point in them doing that at all. Also, it seemed it was only one small area the queens did this in, as other colonies around did their normal thing. Maybe an old instinct or something. But, I'd think they'd spend less energy walking a few feet than actually flying such a short distance. Though it was only one small area I saw queens do this in...all the other Argentine ant colonies around didn't do it. I think it was only one single colony for some reason.

 

That's a very interesting observation.  As you say, it is probably a vestigial behavior from their evolutionary past.

[Alza]

My observaition is that somehow, they are able to tell non-fertilized queens from the fertilized ones (winged new borns) and they attempt to go on top of them, and mate, while the wings block them from mating, thus its not possible. But once the queen removes her wings, and the male goes on top, then it can mate.