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Slow growing colony booster?

Started By Scottmac , Aug 13 2025 1:16 AM

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#1 Offline Scottmac - Posted August 13 2025 - 1:16 AM

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Hi, i have a colony of m. barbarus and my boys recently caught some l. niger mated queens.

In the case of l. niger is it possible to collect pupae from other wild nests to the mated queens so when they hatch the workers will adapt to those queens? How likely is it this would work? (I'd not try larvae as the queens would need to feed them and so i assume it's more likely they'd be eaten)

Similar Q with my m. barbarus as i have 2 queens only about 5-10 workers and brood after several months, but i am based in UK so don't have acccess to wild populations. Is there anywhere online ou can purchase m. barbarus (live) pupae?

Thanks

Scott

#2 Offline IdioticMouse26 - Posted August 13 2025 - 12:53 PM

Advanced Member

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210 posts

LocationCanada

I'm not sure about where to purchase broods, but one way to speed up colony growth is putting them in a warmer spot, feeding them proteins (like crickets, mealworms, etc). For the I. nigers, if it's in a cocoon, it should work, I believe.

Oh, so this is how the signature function works. Nice.

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