6 replies to this topic

[Virginian_ants]

I was on a bike ride when I saw a odd looking ant I've never seen before. I had a spare test tube so I captured and because I was in a hurry. I later identified her as a Asian Needle Ant worker. I knew they were a terrible invasive species so I couldn't release her but I couldn't bring myself to kill her so I put her in a tiny cute jar I had and I've decided to see if I can keep her solitarily. She started showing behavior like a queen ant digging a claustral chamber and dragging the cockroach I gave her into it. Could she lay eggs that turn into males? If so could I take another worker and do a similar thing and swap the males? Would they start a colony?

[Manitobant]

Brachyponera chinensis do not have gamergates. To my knowledge, no North American species does.

[Virginian_ants]

I know but many Ponerinae do so maybe they haven't discovered it yet. What's the average lifespan of a Brachyponera chinensis worker?

[Manitobant]

They definitely do not have gamergates, no brachyponera species does. If you want a colony though they are super easy to get and are very polygynous.

[Virginian_ants]

Okay I might go to the place I found the worker and collect the colony they are invasive so I i don't feel bad about removing them.

[Virginian_ants]

Nevermind they are on someone's lawn. Ire would be weird if I just pulled up to someone I don't know's house then steal some ants and dirt then leave.

[FinWins]

Brachyponera chinensis do not have gamergates. To my knowledge, no North American species does.

My pogonomyrmex californicus are, I currently have two 100+ worker colonies that both have two queens. I also have 11 founding queens some of which are founding together in the same tube.