7 replies to this topic

[Queen]

I have found that eventually ants may reject or kill a queen in a non-true polygynous colony. Has anyone had any experience in saving the rejected queen before it is killed and started a new colony from it?

[Zeiss]

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And that is easy to do.  In ants that perform pleometrosis and related social behaviors that will kill off every queen except one, just let them get pupae then you can separate before any chance at workers picking sides.  

[OhNoNotAgain]

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And that is easy to do.  In ants that perform pleometrosis and related social behaviors that will kill off every queen except one, just let them get pupae then you can separate before any chance at workers picking sides.  

 

This is what I'm thinking of doing with CA02, except perhaps after letting them get workers first - because apparently they turn pleo from diapause, not before.

[Zeiss]

 

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And that is easy to do.  In ants that perform pleometrosis and related social behaviors that will kill off every queen except one, just let them get pupae then you can separate before any chance at workers picking sides.  

 

This is what I'm thinking of doing with CA02, except perhaps after letting them get workers first - because apparently they turn pleo from diapause, not before.

Yeah, letting them get workers first should be fine, you just wouldn't want them to sit together too long and get too many workers.  For people new to separating queens I just suggest doing it before workers to minimize danger.

[Queen]

I separated it and it started laying eggs. So we'll see how it goes.. Pupae can't really be accessed right now.

[MrPurpleB]

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And that is easy to do.  In ants that perform pleometrosis and related social behaviors that will kill off every queen except one, just let them get pupae then you can separate before any chance at workers picking sides.  

Would you have to ensure each queen gets at least one pupa? Or as giving each queen just larvae be enough? I have a poly clari, but last time I checked I only saw one pupa. The other larvae are fairly small, so not too sure if I can get another pupa before the first worker? 

Also how would you guys go by separating queens? 

[Zeiss]

 

For future posts, make sure you only click to post once and if you do happen to double post, please report it.

 

And that is easy to do.  In ants that perform pleometrosis and related social behaviors that will kill off every queen except one, just let them get pupae then you can separate before any chance at workers picking sides.  

Would you have to ensure each queen gets at least one pupa? Or as giving each queen just larvae be enough? I have a poly clari, but last time I checked I only saw one pupa. The other larvae are fairly small, so not too sure if I can get another pupa before the first worker? 

Also how would you guys go by separating queens? 

You don't have to, you can just evenly split up the brood.  The queens should be fine together for a while with a small group of workers if you want to wait for more development before splitting.  

 

It's easy to separate queens.  Dump them out into a container that's escape proof and then just separate.

[MrPurpleB]

For future posts, make sure you only click to post once and if you do happen to double post, please report it.
 
And that is easy to do.  In ants that perform pleometrosis and related social behaviors that will kill off every queen except one, just let them get pupae then you can separate before any chance at workers picking sides.

Would you have to ensure each queen gets at least one pupa? Or as giving each queen just larvae be enough? I have a poly clari, but last time I checked I only saw one pupa. The other larvae are fairly small, so not too sure if I can get another pupa before the first worker? 
Also how would you guys go by separating queens?

You don't have to, you can just evenly split up the brood.  The queens should be fine together for a while with a small group of workers if you want to wait for more development before splitting.  
 
It's easy to separate queens.  Dump them out into a container that's escape proof and then just separate.

I see thanks. Funny enough when I was moving my poly clari into another Test tube, I accidentally separated them, so I guess it shouldn't be too hard.