3 replies to this topic

[Devi]

First Entry:  Sep. 22 2020

 

     The other day I was out mountain biking, (one of my favorite things to do) and I came across a piece of bark wedged into the ground.  I flipped it over, not really expecting to find anything, but hopeful just the same.  I saw a fairly large whole, and what looked like a gaster in that whole.  I carefully dug it up, and found a lasius queen!  (probably neo-niger)  I looked in my CamelBak and got out a small air-tight container.  It isn't ideal for capturing ants, but it's the best I had at the time.  (I wasn't out anting, just kind of came across her)  I captured her successfully, and then rushed home as fast as I could.  Unfortunately I am out of test tubes at the present time, so I had to let one of my many tetramorium queens (who I had just found)  out in my garden.  I put her under a rock in hopes that she will make it.  Anyway, now that I had a test tube available, I put her in it carefully.  I think she has laid eggs, but for some reason she doesn't really seem to care about them.  She stands on the other side of the tube which is peculiar.  That test tube wasn't particularly new, so it may have been debris or even eggs I missed from the last tetramorium that was in there.  I actually managed to get some OK pics of her, so I will post some.  Nothing much has happened as of yet, so I will update when something worth noting happens. 

 

Thank you for reading. 

 

Be kinder that necessary,

Devi

 

 

 

[AntsDakota]

 I carefully dug it up, and found a lasius queen! 

Good luck with this! Although she may not lay until next year. Just be prepared for excruciatingly slow brood growth. Although around here the genus is so common that I would've gone:

 

 

Oh, another Lasius queen........ 

 

 

 

 

Edited by AntsDakota, September 22 2020 - 3:34 PM.

[Ants_Dakota]

i would highly recommend keeping this species in a test tube filled with dirt. It will speed along the growth process drastically.

[Devi]

Second Entry:  Oct. 26 2020

 

A few of you have asked for updates on my journals, so I decided I'd take some time to update them all. 

 

This lasius queen was found very late in the season, and she didn't lay many eggs...  I put her in hibernation last week.  I am hoping that next season she will lay lots of brood and thrive!  I will also take Ants_Dakota's advice and put dirt in the test tube next year, that is a great idea!  

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Be kinder than necessary,

Devi