6 replies to this topic

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

My pogonomyrmex occidentalis just produced their first alate.

I imagine there will be more to come over the next month or so during their season.

From what i read any males that can't leave will be killed off and any females who can't leave will live out their lives as workers (really long lived ones?)

Is this correct?
 

What's yalls normal practice on this?

 

Do you just ignore them or do you do anything about it?

 

 

Thanks for any input,

FFY

[Virginian_ants]

In small colonies I remove them so they don't take up too much food. But in larger ones you don't need to do anything. The females will drop their wings and act like workers males will die.

[Locness]

.

Attached Images

• 

[AntsCali098]

In small colonies I remove them so they don't take up too much food. But in larger ones you don't need to do anything. The females will drop their wings and act like workers males will die.

You could leave them in, or you could release the males and females near other colonies so that they could fly. They will eventually have their mating flight and attempt to fly out. When they do that, I'd realese them near other pogonomrymex colonies unless there is no other pogonomrymex in your area.

Edited by AntsCali098, September 2 2023 - 12:17 PM.

[Puddingtempest]

keep the alates separate but alive, then when you see alates from another species, put them together, in the hopes of creating a weird hybrid.

[antsriondel]

If only I made it to that stage. 

[Serafine]

You can just leave them, it won't do anything.

The food argument is invalid, your colony has more easily accessible food than it will ever be able to process anyway.