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Interesting Crematogaster Observation.


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5 replies to this topic

#1 Offline michiganantsinmyyard - Posted August 28 2024 - 10:48 AM

michiganantsinmyyard

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Not sure if it’s already documented, but I was watching my backyard Crematogaster sp. (most likely cerasi) and I saw the workers put their own queens and males into a pull with their jaws. It didn’t seem like they were killing the alates however, they weren’t dabbing their venom, and when I chased the workers off the alates would go straight back to get stretched by the workers. I have a video, I’ll link it here when it’s uploaded.

#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted August 28 2024 - 11:00 AM

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Sometimes alates want to fly while workers feel conditions aren’t right, so you’ll see them trying to pull the alates back into the nest.
  • Ernteameise and cooIboyJ like this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#3 Online rptraut - Posted August 28 2024 - 11:43 AM

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Hello michiganantsinmyyard;

 

I've seen workers of other types of ants that seem to be forcing the alates out of the nest and encouraging them to fly.

RPT


My father always said I had ants in my pants.

#4 Offline michiganantsinmyyard - Posted August 29 2024 - 2:31 AM

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Sometimes alates want to fly while workers feel conditions aren’t right, so you’ll see them trying to pull the alates back into the nest.

Could have been it, but nuptial flights were in full swing. Alates were definitely flying everywhere, I caught six so far.

#5 Offline ANTdrew - Posted August 29 2024 - 10:56 AM

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Alates and workers can still get in disagreements.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#6 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted August 29 2024 - 1:29 PM

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True, so can workers. When moving into a new nest workers often disagree on whether the old or new nest is better suited for the brood. They will express their differing opinions by bringing the brood back and forth to the nest they prefer, getting absolutely nothing done until a final decision is made. I've also seen them disagree on where to take the queen, and will attempt to drag her in two or more directions.


Edited by RushmoreAnts, August 29 2024 - 1:30 PM.

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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis





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