10 replies to this topic

[MyrmecologyMaven]

I just received this lone Solenopsis molesta queen from Ants_Dakota! When I was coordinating this big order from him he found out this queen was pretty unhealthy. Two of the other queens had died and she had no brood or workers. He then gave the colony to me for free! I can't praise everything enough when it comes to Ants_Dakota! Amazing seller that I will be purchasing more from in the future! I moved her into a new test tube for a fresh start. I'm excited to see if she can pull through and create a thriving colony in the future! 

 

Solenopsis molesta

[AntsGodzilla]

I just received this lone Solenopsis molesta queen from Ants_Dakota! When I was coordinating this big order from him he found out this queen was pretty unhealthy. Two of the other queens had died and she had no brood or workers. He then gave the colony to me for free! I can't praise everything enough when it comes to Ants_Dakota! Amazing seller that I will be purchasing more from in the future! I moved her into a new test tube for a fresh start. I'm excited to see if she can pull through and create a thriving colony in the future! 

 

Solenopsis molesta

IMG_2298.jpeg

Exited for a solenopsis journal! It's cool to see their colonies grow!

[kiedeerk]

I hope all these queens you bought will yield healthy colonies but I will always advise people not to buy queens or colonies in the off season. We are like 1-2 months away from a new season. You should always buy queens from current season and best would be when they first get their nanitics.

I would 100% avoid solo queens at the end of the season because the chance of infertility is near 100% if they haven’t gotten workers by then. The species that will dispause and lay after are crematogasters and lasius and sometimes Formica. The rest of the species should have healthy number of workers by this time of year.

I hope you got a good deal or these weren’t super expensive. But have patience with the new anting season about to start. Catching queens is free you just have to be at the right place at the right time.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

I hope all these queens you bought will yield healthy colonies but I will always advise people not to buy queens or colonies in the off season. We are like 1-2 months away from a new season. You should always buy queens from current season and best would be when they first get their nanitics.

I would 100% avoid solo queens at the end of the season because the chance of infertility is near 100% if they haven’t gotten workers by then. The species that will dispause and lay after are crematogasters and lasius and sometimes Formica. The rest of the species should have healthy number of workers by this time of year.

I hope you got a good deal or these weren’t super expensive. But have patience with the new anting season about to start. Catching queens is free you just have to be at the right place at the right time.

The S. molesta queen was free. I got a pretty good deal on all of the colonies. Some were a little expensive like the Brachymyrmex because of rarity and really low supply. Most of these ants have just been taken out of dormancy after being caught last season. Most still haven't gotten nanatics but have very plump abdomens. I'm gonna be out anting a lot this year. I have some trips planned just for anting.

[jabasson]

I hope all these queens you bought will yield healthy colonies but I will always advise people not to buy queens or colonies in the off season. We are like 1-2 months away from a new season. You should always buy queens from current season and best would be when they first get their nanitics.

I would 100% avoid solo queens at the end of the season because the chance of infertility is near 100% if they haven’t gotten workers by then. The species that will dispause and lay after are crematogasters and lasius and sometimes Formica. The rest of the species should have healthy number of workers by this time of year.

I hope you got a good deal or these weren’t super expensive. But have patience with the new anting season about to start. Catching queens is free you just have to be at the right place at the right time.

Yes but the right place and time is really difficult, at least for me lol. I can catch S. xyloni and S. molesta and Brachymyrmex in my backyard at night pretty easily cause I figured it out. If the air outside feels sticky all I have to do is turn on a bright LED right before sunset and attract tons of queens (I have found turning it on before sunset actually helps a ton). Aside from that I haven't ever seen any other species of queens. To be fair I have only been at this for a year though. I think like me there are probably other people who have the same issue, but they don't have the same free time and as good a location as I do, and just want to enjoy the hobby without putting in years of queen hunting and anting work. Even I am considering just giving up and buying colonies again. I will wait until the end of this year to decide though. 

[Ants_Dakota]

 

I hope all these queens you bought will yield healthy colonies but I will always advise people not to buy queens or colonies in the off season. We are like 1-2 months away from a new season. You should always buy queens from current season and best would be when they first get their nanitics.

I would 100% avoid solo queens at the end of the season because the chance of infertility is near 100% if they haven’t gotten workers by then. The species that will dispause and lay after are crematogasters and lasius and sometimes Formica. The rest of the species should have healthy number of workers by this time of year.

I hope you got a good deal or these weren’t super expensive. But have patience with the new anting season about to start. Catching queens is free you just have to be at the right place at the right time.

Yes but the right place and time is really difficult, at least for me lol. I can catch S. xyloni and S. molesta and Brachymyrmex in my backyard at night pretty easily cause I figured it out. If the air outside feels sticky all I have to do is turn on a bright LED right before sunset and attract tons of queens (I have found turning it on before sunset actually helps a ton). Aside from that I haven't ever seen any other species of queens. To be fair I have only been at this for a year though. I think like me there are probably other people who have the same issue, but they don't have the same free time and as good a location as I do, and just want to enjoy the hobby without putting in years of queen hunting and anting work. Even I am considering just giving up and buying colonies again. I will wait until the end of this year to decide though. 

 

This is actually interesting that S. molesta and Brachymyrmex are attracted to lights where you live. Here they fly before sunsets and are not effected by blacklights even, so in a way you are lucky.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

She has some eggs and a few tiny larvae now. Hard to see in the photos. Hope she gets nanatics soon!

 

 

 

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Good news! I checked on her today and she has lots of brood and a pupae that just started to get color! First nanitic should be moving around by tomorrow! I'll give you a eher a little sugar water on some cotton once the worker is fully developed. Thanks again Ants_Dakota for thorwing this colony in for free! Looks like the colony is going to be a success!

Edited by MyrmecologyMaven, May 16 2025 - 7:11 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Good news! Also note the spelling of nanitic. 

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Good news! Also note the spelling of nanitic. 

Thanks for the correction! Updated.

[ColAnt735]

Can't wait for the nanitics to arrive and keep the updates coming! This forum lacks journals on this species, so it's good to see this one off to such a promising start!