Jump to content

  • Gallery
  • Members
  • Member Map
  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Adding pupae from other nests as bump starter?

Started By Scottmac , Aug 11 2025 6:09 AM

  • Please log in to reply
7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Scottmac - Posted August 11 2025 - 6:09 AM

Scottmac

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 8 posts
Hello,

I have a v slow growing M Barbarus colony (2 queens about 5 workers and plenty of eggs kept at 25oc 62% humidy) so not sure what's taking them so long as its been several months. The idea struck me would adding pupae from other nests work and be accepted to bump start the colpny? Eg local fields are full of Lasius Niger colonies with lots of cocoons. What do you think would happen?

#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted August 11 2025 - 9:54 AM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 10,391 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Messor and Lasius are two totally different genera of ants. Adding Lasius pupae to a Messor colony would probably just lead to them getting eaten.
"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 Offline L.H - Posted August 11 2025 - 10:43 AM

L.H

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 76 posts
  • LocationOkemos, Michigan

Adding on to what ANTdrew said, you would need the same species's brood to boost your colony. I have had an 100% acceptance rate of brood from the same species. If they are not the same species they will get eaten.


#4 Offline Scottmac - Posted August 11 2025 - 11:32 AM

Scottmac

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 8 posts
Ah thanks for replies, that's what I thought. Was reading about slavemaker ants so thought there was a slim chance it may be possible.

#5 Offline D-4057 - Posted August 23 2025 - 9:29 AM

D-4057

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 10 posts
I was thinking the same thing, but after doing it, I saw that they either get eaten or ignored.

#6 Offline D-4057 - Posted August 23 2025 - 9:31 AM

D-4057

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 10 posts
They can only be accepted if either the queen of the colony is weakened or the colony has lost many workers.

#7 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted August 24 2025 - 6:05 PM

RushmoreAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,498 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

Ah thanks for replies, that's what I thought. Was reading about slavemaker ants so thought there was a slim chance it may be possible.

Slavemaker ants only prey on related species. Polyergus is a related genus to Formica, and they prey on fusca, pallidefulva, and neogagates group Formica. Slave-raiding Formica in the sanguinea, rufa, and other species groups also prey on normal Formica. The only brood that your colony wouldn't eat or throw away is from the genus Messor. If they're not Messor barbarus, it's still risky, and they may get eaten.


"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                                  Camponotus vicinus, modoc, novaeboracensis, herculeanus

Formica pallidefulva, argentea                        Solenopsis molesta

Formica cf. aserva                                          Lasius brevicornis, neoniger

Pheidole bicarinata

Lasius claviger

#8 Offline Zhuge - Posted August 24 2025 - 6:18 PM

Zhuge

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 79 posts
  • LocationWashington state (Redmond)

Adding on to what ANTdrew said, you would need the same species's brood to boost your colony. I have had an 100% acceptance rate of brood from the same species. If they are not the same species they will get eaten.

In Jant's pheidole californica journal he added tetra pupae and they got accepted. Even if they get eaten they are not too bad of a protien source i think.


Aphaenogaster occidentalis queen when

Back to General Ant Keeping · Next Unread Topic →


1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users