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2 More Queens to ID - State College, PA - 8/15/15

Started By Works4TheGood , Aug 15 2015 7:25 AM

Best Answer ctantkeeper , August 15 2015 - 7:47 AM

the two pictures on the right are of Solenopsis molesta (thief ant). the other one is some type of lasius but i am not sure what it is exactly. my best guess would be lasius flavus.

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22 replies to this topic

#21 Offline Works4TheGood - Posted August 24 2015 - 6:20 PM

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I'm confused again. Don't ant-keepers have complete control over when the hibernation occurs? Couldn't I just postpone that until U have workers?

~Dan

#22 Offline Crystals - Posted August 24 2015 - 6:46 PM

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LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

Some species lay before hibernation, some after. This year has had some really messed up flights to confuse matters even more.

If she laid eggs, don't put her in hibernation yet. Keep an eye on the brood, if they stop growing for a month, then put them in hibernation. Some Lasius overwinter larvae. Some species may well raise their first workers before you put them in hibernation.

Sometimes the queens also decide to make up their own rules. The path you are on is one where you stage your decisions week by week, depending on what the colony/queen is doing.

The best thing is to watch what the queen and brood are doing. If all growth stops for a month (and there are no pupae) then into hibernation, if brood is growing, then leave them be.

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