4 replies to this topic

[Works4TheGood]

So I double-checked one of my Lasius neoniger (or at least I think that's what it is) colonies today in a test-tube setup and found a huge surprise!  This particular colony, which previously consisted of only workers, now also had young alates!  Is this normal???  None of my other colonies are doing this ... just this particular queen.  I think she's a mutant; that's my only explanation since all my colonies are kept under very similar conditions.  Here's a video showing you what I'm seeing:

[dermy]

Maybe it was just a few unfertilized eggs that went undetected and were allowed to grow into male alates, i don't think i see any Queen Alates in there.

 

But it is still very weird and I'd like to see what other peoples thoughts are.

[LC3]

Yeah I agree with dermy. Alates can be produced in captivity, usually when the colony reaches a certain size. 

It is very weird though, a colony that young producing alates is not unheard of but certainly rare.

[drtrmiller]

The ultimate goal of any ant colony is to reproduce.

 

Males are just as important a part of the reproductive process as queens, and cost fewer resources to produce.  A colony of any size may produce alates for a number of reasons.

 

While it is true that unfertilized eggs will go on to produce males, it is not true that a queen that produces males is always unfertilized.

 

There is nothing to worry about. Any reproductives are usually a sign that the ants are being fed an excellent diet and are getting everything they need from their environment.

[Batspiderfish]

It's very likely that the unfertilized eggs were laid and raised to maturity by some sort of accident or flaw. Reproductive ants are a drain on resources which young colonies typically need to spend on more workers -- especially considering that these males are coming at least a month early for this species' nuptial season. I've had this happen before (I think with Formica?) but the colony was fine overall.