12 replies to this topic

[Antcatcherpro3]

So yesterday, there was a big nuptial flight of prenolepis, and I caught a lot of queens, so I was going to keep one colony, and after the others get workers, I was going ti introduce them around my county. In so doing this I will be able to reduce the population of Argentine ants, and this will help make the native ants have a comeback. I don't have many Argentine ants around here, but I don't want any, as their colonys can get really big. What do you think of this?

[Chickalo]

Sounds great!  I might do something similar with the Tetramorium population...

Sometime in the Massachusetts Ant-Keeping discord (which if you're interested I'll try dm you an invite tonight) we came up with an idea to try and catch rare species/species being outcompeted by invasives, grow them to a nice big size, then release them in hopes they become more popular throughout the state.

[Antcatcherpro3]

what ants over power tetramorium?

[TennesseeAnts]

So yesterday, there was a big nuptial flight of prenolepis, and I caught a lot of queens, so I was going to keep one colony, and after the others get workers, I was going ti introduce them around my county. In so doing this I will be able to reduce the population of Argentine ants, and this will help make the native ants have a comeback. I don't have many Argentine ants around here, but I don't want any, as their colonys can get really big. What do you think of this?

You don't have any Linepithema humile in MA, those are Tapinoma sessile- a native Dolichoderine. Odds are you won't be able to introduce them to your county, as if they aren't there (highly unlikely, a county is a huge amount of land and you just haven't found them) there's a good reason (i.e. improper soil type, highly disturbed habitat, too many exotics, etc. and you won't be able to introduce them with a few queens.) they aren't already there.

[Antcatcherpro3]

BIG oof for me

[Chickalo]

BIG oof for me

I would still do it, since it's always good to help your native population (and because I don't like those wild Tetramorium killing off my precious Lasius)

[Antcatcherpro3]

Do prenos keep of tetramorium too?

[TennesseeAnts]

Do prenos keep of tetramorium too?

No, their colonies are miniscule compared to the ravenous T. immigrans.

[ANTdrew]

To help native ants in your area, work to preserve and create robust native plant habitats. Native plants are the bedrock of all terrestrial ecosystems. If you plant it, they will come! Early and late blooming native wildflowers would help Prenolepis, as would plants that host lots of aphids. Goldenrods would fulfill both of these roles, plus they are beautiful in their own right!

[Antcatcherpro3]

thanks for the advice!

[ANTdrew]

You are welcome, young padawan.

[Antcatcherpro3]

I'm not sure if I'm suppose to say lol at that.

I need help IDing a queen. Can you help. I made a post for it already.

Also. Are preno's the only ants flying right now?

[Kaelwizard]

 

Also. Are preno's the only ants flying right now?

Most likely.