I found a Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen inside a log today.
She was oddly located at the end of the log with no workers or brood noticeable.
The log was filled with workers. I collected 10 with her. She was alone in a vial with 2 of them and they got along fine.
When I got home I put the 8 in the second vial inside the freezer for a very short time to transfer them.
When they all woke up everything was fine but one single worker started getting aggressive and attacking her.
Shortly after one of the majors joined in so I had to separate them all.
They were all clearly agitated, To be safe I dumped all the workers outside and kept only the queen.
Could my short freezing session of caused this somehow? Or maybe I just grabbed one that was not part of the colony.
I did grab a single worker that was near the log carrying food. Might have been going elsewhere.
I am not sure why this would trigger other ants to attack though unless the formic acid had something to do with it.
Curious to your thoughts.
- Jeff
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