185 replies to this topic

[iggy]

Here is another attempt to get the colors right under the microscope camera.  The background is brown cardboard.

 

[Ants_Dakota]

 

Here is another attempt to get the colors right under the microscope camera.  The background is brown cardboard.

 

 

 

Check out my Formica sp. Journal: https://www.formicul...urnal/?p=246305
There is post and ID thread I created on Formica montana, which could be your queen.

[iggy]

Update.  I pulled her out of the dark drawer and checked her test tube today.  She has one egg and is quite active.  She has removed her wings.  Back to the dark drawer.

[jo16]

So this morning I got up at around 7:30am, and the ant colony in my front yard was carrying tons of princesses out of their nest they where all flying away, I'm assuming that it's a neptule flight.

So I hope this isn't a stupid question but I was just wondering how you can tell if it's a queen if it still has wings, because I can't help but wonder if some of the queens might still have wings but I just think that they are princesses?

 

[ANTdrew]

Check spelling: nuptial flight.
Some queens will keep their wings, so they are not a surefire way of determining if queens are mated or not. The Tetramorium you saw flying in your yard shed wings very quickly after mating, though. Winged Tetramorium queens you find are likely to be unmated.

[jo16]

thanks.