6 replies to this topic

[Stubyvast]

Hello folks! I captured this queen just a few minutes ago, and thought to get an ID on her before continuing. I'm thinking she's parasitic, based on her size, specifically the size of her gaster. If I'm correct, I know a big mound of Formica obscuripes that lives nearby, which I can attempt to raid for brood and callows. I've never done this before, so any advice would be welcome. And, of course, an ID would be great. Thanks!

 

 

 

Edited by Stubyvast, Yesterday, 5:45 PM.

[Stubyvast]

Ok, assuming it's a parasitic Formica, (hopefully not a slave-maker) should I begin collecting brood now, or wait until after hibernation? I'm worried that due to BC's longer winter season, my queen may not survive alone all winter, even with me giving her carbs. 

Thanks guys!

[Nare]

I'm a bit rusty on my Formica ID'ing but I figure it's either integra- or sanguinea-group. We'd need to see if there's a clypeal notch or not to tell which is which. See if you can get a picture like the ones on this page: Getting to know thatching ants: a general guide for the Pacific Northwest - Nature Talk - iNaturalist Community Forum. You'd need pupae in any case but if it's integra-group you'd need nanitics as well, as the queen won't open pupae on her own. I think there's a couple other tricks folks have tried re: integra-group founding but I'm not sure what's been successful and what hasn't. I'd definitely start working on getting her some hosts before winter though.

[Stubyvast]

Ok, thanks Nare! So I tried getting the best picture I possibly could, what with a cheap macro lens on an iPhone. From personal observation, she definitely has a clypeal notch there, which I think the photos kind of show. I'll definitely have to invest in a proper camera sometime soon though. Apologies for the quality.

And so, if she has a clypeal notch, what group does that put her in?

 

 

 

 

[Nare]

She'd be sanguinea-group I believe. Something like F. aserva maybe. You can just give her pupae and she'll figure out the rest.

[Stubyvast]

Excellent. Found some ​Formica neorofibarbis pupae, (and a worker) which I will give to my queen soon! 

[Stubyvast]

Man guys I'm so excited, I have successfully begun the process of creating a successful Formica aserva colony! Apologies once more for the image quality, the test tube is actually super scratched from my attempts to clean it. The pictured callows are Formica neorufibarbis, with parasite, slave-maker Formica aserva. I did some research, and this species doesn't necessarily require slaves after the founding stage, so luckily for me I don't have to find many more host colonies for these guys. Any tips after this stage?