10 replies to this topic

[sgheaton]

As a beginning anthusiast, I have the big question that everyone does. How do you obtain a queen that is native to your area? 

 

I live in Colorado (Firestone) and noticed ant hills starting to form around the areas. I don't think it would be very wise/ethical/the correct method to literally begin dissecting these previous colonies from their already established locations. I feel like I would kill 99% of the colony just to get the 1%-queen. This led me to seeing if you could purchase one online. ...that inquiry showed how illegal it as to transport live insects over state borders. It looked like trying to find a queen around my state to be shipped in would be highly frowned upon and thus quickly shut the door for that path. 

I have a 20 and 55 gallon fish tank so I figured to try something new. With a third extra tank that I have laying around, my plan is to construct a formicarium out of it. Not wanting to have to continually buy/supply ants, I'd like to have a stable, thriving, living colony going on. I don't have any concerns in doing this as I plan on taking a lot of time in doing so. However, I don't want my efforts to be in vain if I can't even obtain a colony alive and well.

 

So I'm looking at first how/where/what/if I am even able to have queen ant at my residence? Until then, my current method has been checking underneath flatter objects that are around the bases of trees, brush, the ground in an attempt to catch her right before she takes flight. 

 

Thank you for the words of advice and guidance in my quest. 

Edited by dspdrew, May 9 2016 - 12:34 PM.
Moved post to its own topic

[dspdrew]

Welcome. This thread will tell you most of what you need to know to catch your own queens.

http://www.formicult...tch-ant-queens/

 

This will give you an idea of when you can expect to find the different species in your area.

http://www.formicult...nt-mating-chart

 

This will give you a list of all the genera in Colorado.

https://www.antweb.o...nts&images=true

 

Also, I moved your post to a new topic, since even though you were both from Colorado, it wasn't really relevant to that introduction thread.

[sgheaton]

Thank you, DSPDrew. I'll continue my search through the links you provided...when I'm not at work. 

[Crystals]

It will likely pay to go around turning over rocks and wood, especially at this time of year.  I found the best time to be around 10am when the sun was just heating up ground, some species like Myrmica and Formica will have the queens come up beneath objects to warm up.  Although I have found queens at all times of the day under objects.

If you see the queen, grab her first - then grab as many workers and brood as you can.  The queen will need as many workers as you can catch.

 

 

You may find this link interesting on a rainy day - http://www.formicult...of-handy-links/

Lots of tutorials, pictures, and more.

[sgheaton]

So far all the ants that I have found immediately around my house have been very tiny. .....so my original intent for the fish tank...well my ant colony would be MASSIVE and probably take many years to fill. I'm found many colonies around but didn't want to disturb them. No queen sightings yet that I know of. Keeping up and basically made "traps" that consist of bricks resting on top of sand. Lifting a brick reveals quite the bug haul and so far some ants have gone so far to begin tunnel work..clearly meaning I missed the queen. Going to continue looking though!!!!

[Kwitzats]

It took me almost two years to find any queens of merit. It can be frustrating as all heck. Keep containers on you at all times and try to get into nature as often as possible. Make friends with fellow anters (what do we call ourselves?) who are in the same state and may be able to hook you up when they find lot of queens. 

[Kwitzats]

So far all the ants that I have found immediately around my house have been very tiny. .....so my original intent for the fish tank...well my ant colony would be MASSIVE and probably take many years to fill. I'm found many colonies around but didn't want to disturb them. No queen sightings yet that I know of. Keeping up and basically made "traps" that consist of bricks resting on top of sand. Lifting a brick reveals quite the bug haul and so far some ants have gone so far to begin tunnel work..clearly meaning I missed the queen. Going to continue looking though!!!!

if you put down bricks and have ant tunnels in a day or so she probably is not that far down. You can scoop up them with a shovel there are some videos out there on the technique of harvesting queens in new founding chambers.

[sgheaton]

.....................everything I just typed went away in an error........ I am super sad face...I'll retype an abridged version later..

Edited by sgheaton, May 16 2016 - 6:15 AM.

[LC3]

Did you try ctrl+z?

[dspdrew]

.....................everything I just typed went away in an error........ I am super sad face...I'll retype an abridged version later..

 

After a certain amount of seconds, what you have typed out should automatically save. When you go to retype your message it should give you the option to restore the saved content.

[sgheaton]

Ctrl+Z'd and everything. It was basically a description of my weekend adventure of ANTING! Nothing you haven't heard already.....

 

TL;DR - Still no queens.

Currently have 3 glass test tubes. Need some more practice with the water cotton ball prep before I actually find a queen. It has been raining the past few days. Finally let up but was cold. Today the sun has broken through the clouds for the first time since....Saturday? So hopefully it'll warm up and be prime time for finding! I've learned these mofo's are tiny around my house. Previous colonies are thriving heavily in between my patio bricks. At least I can see dirt piles there. Unfortunately can't, and don't want to, get to those. Going to keep searching for fresh new areas. 
 

As for the pictures I was going to attach before...well I decided they weren't queens. Not compared to others pictures of them. Mine were too tiny still. Not fully convinced I had the real deal...which makes me curse at the damn needle in a haystack feeling this gives. Can't imagine the amount of joy in having a successful search though. I have scrapped my original idea for the colony design as the tank is rather large...and the colony will most likely be on the smaller size. However I have rethought of a new one for a more desktop approach. I realized my mistake in wanting to start big from the get go but I really need to figure things out first before going to such a high level.