8 replies to this topic

[prettycode]

Caught twelve of these the other day. I put them all in their own test tubes and they were all dead the next day, less than 24 hours later.

 

Why might they all have died?

 

It does appear to be a queen, yes?

 

Test tube is 16 mm diameter.

 

http://i.imgur.com/bclAkRf.jpg

 

[Gregory2455]

These are males.

[prettycode]

These are males.

 

How can you tell? (So I don't have to waste my time--or yours--in the future!)

 

Is it the size of the gaster--too small?

Edited by prettycode, August 17 2015 - 8:05 PM.

[Gregory2455]

Well to me, the head is the clearest sign. Take Formica fusca as an example.

Queen: 

Male:

 

You will notice three things right away in basically all species.

1: The queen's head is larger than that of a male's.

2: The queens mandibles are a lot larger and stronger than a male's.

3: A males eyes are usually a lot larger than that of a queen of the same species.

Edited by Gregory2455, August 17 2015 - 8:10 PM.

[LC3]

Other note: Males usually have really long skinny gasters .Not elongated but more like a sausage.Some if not all males lack elbowed antanae.

Edited by LC3, August 17 2015 - 8:18 PM.

[William. T]

LC3 and Greg got it perfectly. Also, males outnumber the queens by a huge ratio.

[prettycode]

Thanks for the help, y'all!

 

Since this is one of my first experiences seeing a flight, I just grabbed anything that was flying and moving. I did this a couple or few weeks ago too, and caught maybe 30 males at the same time as well--and no females.

 

How do you guys handle flights? Do you do the same thing--capture anything, then release whatever appears not to be female? Or do you actually inspect each ant before you trap it?

 

Just looking for the best strategy for grabbing queens when you happen upon dozens of flying ants!

 

Thanks again!

[William. T]

Thanks for the help, y'all!

 

Since this is one of my first experiences seeing a flight, I just grabbed anything that was flying and moving. I did this a couple or few weeks ago too, and caught maybe 30 males at the same time as well--and no females.

 

How do you guys handle flights? Do you do the same thing--capture anything, then release whatever appears not to be female? Or do you actually inspect each ant before you trap it?

 

Just looking for the best strategy for grabbing queens when you happen upon dozens of flying ants!

 

Thanks again!

 

The differences are LARGE.  I can tell whether or not the thing hovering next my face is a queen, male, or flying monkey. If it is a queen or flying monkey, I will put them in a test tube.

[LC3]

Usually when I see a flight  I go to other nests of that species and check if they are also flying but I don't ever immediately grab queens. I just watch them.The males usually fly first and the queens later, after a while (once they're mainly done flying) I walk around looking at the ground; I usually find a few (if not a lot) of dealates infact you may be able to find dealates the next day. If I see a bunch of ants flying but no mound I still just wait a bit in that area and I find a few dealates. Patience is key in ant keeping.