14 replies to this topic

[cooIboyJ]

I'm going to start a journal on my three Crematogaster sp. queens i caught at the pool a week ago. They haven't laid any eggs yet (from what I can see) but one of them has broken off a wing. Here is a pic of one of the queens:

 

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

nice! hope to see eggs soon.

[cooIboyJ]

One of the queens has laid one egg and the other two are the same as before.

[Ants_Dakota]

One thing I have noticed is that mated crematogaster lay eggs immediately after caught, whether still in a bottle or vial. The fact that only one has actually laid is not a very good sign. Either they are unmated(and fell into the pool while flying) or are waiting for winter, although again, I have never observed this and I live in South Dakota. I wish you the best of luck!

[cooIboyJ]

One thing I have noticed is that mated crematogaster lay eggs immediately after caught, whether still in a bottle or vial. The fact that only one has actually laid is not a very good sign. Either they are unmated(and fell into the pool while flying) or are waiting for winter, although again, I have never observed this and I live in South Dakota. I wish you the best of luck!

I found four total and one escaped before I got home. Only one of them was found in the pool and the others were on the floor. Also the egg is gone now.

[ANTdrew]

The Crematogaster cerasi I find here in Virginia usually do not lay eggs until after diapause.

[cooIboyJ]

The Crematogaster cerasi I find here in Virginia usually do not lay eggs until after diapause.

Do all crematogaster need a diapause? If so then when should I start it?

[ANTdrew]

No. The Crematogaster genus is hyper-diverse with many species not requiring diapause

[cooIboyJ]

No. The Crematogaster genus is hyper-diverse with many species not requiring diapause

How do you tell if they need a diapause without knowing the species? Will they get all lazy and such?

[ANTdrew]

Consider the climate where you found them. Do your best to replicate it.

[Ants_Dakota]

The Crematogaster cerasi I find here in Virginia usually do not lay eggs until after diapause.

Interesting, especially considering you are in a warmer climate

[RushmoreAnts]

 

No. The Crematogaster genus is hyper-diverse with many species not requiring diapause

How do you tell if they need a diapause without knowing the species? Will they get all lazy and such?

 

You live in an Arid climate, which indicates pretty much all species in your area should not require diapause.

[cooIboyJ]

One of the queens has broken off both of her wings and I have noticed a color difference between the three queens. The first queen is all dark brown and the second queen has a lighter brown for her gaster and head with a orangish thorax the third queen has the same coloration as the second but the thorax is darker than the second and lighter than the first.

[cooIboyJ]

I have checked on the queens for the last time and there are still no eggs. I am going to wait a month before checking on them because I really want one to be successful so I will not check on them a lot.

[cooIboyJ]

I didn't wait a month before checking on them because the urge to check up on them was too strong, but the queens have stopped pulling at the cotton and one of them has pulled of both its wings.