11 replies to this topic

[Ernteameise]

Guess who just landed on me while I had a shower?

A light brown Lasius queen.

From the nuptial flight calender, this is either a parasitic Lasius umbratus or a pest species, Lasius brunneus. 

The queen is not dark enough to be another Lasius niger. 

I will have to take better pictures tomorrow and look at my ID keys.

I actually do not need another Lasius colony, and would not be confident enough to keep a pest species (Lasius brunneus will take over your house). 

However, if this is Lasius umbratus, I might try a parasitic founding or at least try and see if brood from my Lasius niger colony can jumpstart this colony (I will not let a parasitic queen lose on my Lasius niger colony). 

But If I try this, I will have to do a bit more research on how you go about it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mettcollsuss]

Lasius emarginatus

[Ernteameise]

Lasius emarginatus

You sure?

Here in Germany, they should start flying at the end of July. That is a month early.

I find these Lasius hard to tell apart, I will have to have a look at the ID keys when I come home from work.

 

In any case, sadly, emarginatus is also considered a pest species, so if it is that, I might not keep her. 

[Full_Frontal_Yeti]

 

Lasius emarginatus

You sure?

Here in Germany, they should start flying at the end of July. That is a month early.

I find these Lasius hard to tell apart, I will have to have a look at the ID keys when I come home from work.

 

In any case, sadly, emarginatus is also considered a pest species, so if it is that, I might not keep her. 

 

I would point out that the old records about what time of year what went on, is something that is not as reliable as it used to be. Time frames related to typical temperatures and moisture levels at a time of year are shifting. And the creatures reacting to environmental conditions rather than a hard clock, are shifting with it.

Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, June 23 2025 - 7:17 AM.

[Ernteameise]

10 days have passed- and the queen has removed her wings (so I think she is fertile).

However, she has not layed any eggs yet. 

I still suspect it might be a parasitic Lasius like umbratus.

This is her today:

I decided to give her some Lasius niger pupae from my colony, I am curious if she will accept the new workers. 

Lasius niger is host to many parasitic Lasius species, so I thought it is worth a try.

I have never tried something like that before.

[ANTdrew]

The gaster is too big for a parasite. Also, Mettcollsuss is the most trustworthy identifier on here, so I’d trust his judgement.

[RushmoreAnts]

Lasius social parasites do not open pupae. If she does, you have your answer. I second trusting Mettcollsuss, he is studying entomology and knows what he's talking about.

[Ernteameise]

Right, thank you for your help!

Well, looks as if you are right.

So this might be Lasius emarginatus, despite the changed flight date due to climate change. 

The pupae have hatched (I assume the queen will have helped them) and the Lasius niger workers are running around.

They seem to get along- there is no fighting or aggression.

The queen has not laid any eggs yet. Of course there is a chance that the queen is infected with a parasitic fly that will hatch from her abdomen- in my youth, when I collected queens, this happened a lot. 

I decided to continue the experiment and placed them in a tubs and tubes setup.

Let us see how this develops. 

 

 

 

[ANTdrew]

This is a species I’d really like to keep. They are established as an invasive species in NYC. Hence, they have been dubbed the ManhattAnt.

[Ernteameise]

This is a species I’d really like to keep. They are established as an invasive species in NYC. Hence, they have been dubbed the ManhattAnt.

Awesome about the ManhattAnt. 

They are a pest species here, too. Not invasive, though, they are native to Europe. 

I see how it goes, however, not sure if I will keep them, yet. 

Edited by Ernteameise, July 5 2025 - 9:09 AM.

[RushmoreAnts]

Sounds like Tapinoma sessile over here.

[Ernteameise]

Since the first Lasius niger workers are buzzing around and I started feeding, the queen has become enormous- physiogastric. Just look at this massive gaster! 

I also can see the first real eggs and small larvae for this queen in the tube.

This brood boosting with Lasius niger pupae has worked perfectly. The workers care for their step-mother and step-sisters as if they were their biological relatives. 

Now I am waiting impatiently for the first "real" workers to appear, so I can be sure this is Lasius emarginatus.