6 replies to this topic

[ZaneMazwellRussell]

     Hi there!

   This my first time ever posting on this forum so hopefully I can find some help.

So I'm an ever increasing ant enthusiast that really wants to start a colony. At first I thought I found 4 queens so i was very excited. But to my disappointment I caught 4 social parasite queens (Laius claviger) and I had no starting brood to even try to get them to lay eggs. Btw I live in Michigan and its the dead of winter. So I was hopefully looking to find a list of all the ant species in Michigan. I live in Monroe county so i think that will also help with the list. But I was also wondering if there is any local Mycologist that may have extra queens that they want to get their hands off of. If so I would love to have Tetramorium because they are the most fascinating to me, but don't worry I know the rules of not transporting queens across states so nothing crazy. I would take anything at this point, because i have an out-world and a nest on the way too! I just hope I'm not asking to much, but I just want some help from people who have been doing this for year instead of me just googling everything. I can wait to hear a response and just talk to someone that knows their stuff.

     Sincerely,

          Zane

[Ants4fun]

Welcome! I believe I am the one who ID'd your queens. I suggest you read this ant keeping guide for beginners: http://www.formicult...-for-beginners/

It will teach you how to care for your social parasite queens as well as basic ant knoledge. I unfortunately live is South Dakota, but If you know what your looking for, a queen can be quite easy to catch. Ants will start flying as early as March. You can hope to find Prenolepis Imparis and Camponotus sp. I don't know anyone who sells in Michagan, but I hope you find someone!http://www.formicult...tch-ant-queens/

Edited by Ants4fun, February 4 2016 - 4:09 PM.

[ZaneMazwellRussell]

Yea you were the one! Thanks btw! Hope fully when march comes around I can find something! Thanks again because I was at a dead standstill when they didn't lay eggs after the first month. Also do you know of common ants in Michigan? Because I can't really find anything on ants in Michigan. 

Edited by ZaneMazwellRussell, February 4 2016 - 4:34 PM.

[Mdrogun]

Yea you were the one! Thanks btw! Hope fully when march comes around I can find something! Thanks again because I was at a dead standstill when they didn't lay eggs after the first month.

I live in the Chicago suburbs. I go to Michigan every year for a boyscout camp and without looking for queens could easily catch a ton. I could drop some queens off at a post office while i'm up there. Would you be interested?

Edited by Mdrogun, February 4 2016 - 4:38 PM.

[ZaneMazwellRussell]

Yeah I would defiantly be interested, what kind of species do you have?

[Mdrogun]

Yeah I would defiantly be interested, what kind of species do you have?

At the moment I don't have any I would be willing to give to you, just my two personal colonies. I know I will catch some: Tetramorium queens

Formica queens

maybe Camponotus queens

Tapinoma sessile queens/colony

 

When I went up to Michigan I caught a ton of queens.

 

I caught some:

Aphaenogaster

Crematogaster

Lasius claviger

Lasius neoniger

Formica ravida (not sure)

Formica fusca

Formica subsericea

Camponotus

and others (I can't remember all of them because the camp is in July which was a while ago.)

 

 

Every year I seem to be finding more queens and different queens. I could try to look for a certain sp. if you want. Just a disclaimer: I will do my best to find you a queen/queens but I can't make any promises.

[ZaneMazwellRussell]

Ok cool because when March swings around I'll hopefully be able to find some as well.