10 replies to this topic

[Ants4fun]

Let's see your methods, successes, failures, notes, videos, journals, articles, person experiences, rumors, gossip and everything In between about parasitic queens.

I haven't seen too much long term success with parasitic queens and colonies and I want to see why. Beginners are usually drawn away and even experienced members prefer the easier route with semi or fully claustral queens. This is not for the faint of heart. Post away!

Edited by Ants4fun, July 20 2016 - 7:05 PM.

[Ants4fun]

[Ants4fun]

Edited by Ants4fun, July 20 2016 - 7:23 PM.

[Ants4fun]

Edited by Ants4fun, July 20 2016 - 7:25 PM.

[Ants4fun]

Edited by Ants4fun, July 20 2016 - 7:26 PM.

[Ants4fun]

[Ants4fun]

Edited by Ants4fun, July 20 2016 - 7:29 PM.

[Ants4fun]

http://www.formicult...s/?hl=parasitic

http://www.formicult...s/?hl=parasitic

http://www.formicult...n/?hl=parasitic

http://www.formicult...g/?hl=parasitic

http://www.formicult...l/?hl=parasitic

http://www.formicult...6/?hl=parasitic

http://www.formicult...l/?hl=parasitic

http://www.antnest.co.uk/lumbratus.pdf

Edited by Ants4fun, July 20 2016 - 7:39 PM.

[Batspiderfish]

I kept a Lasius umbratus colony for four years before they froze in a hibernation mishap. I've founded a two-queen colony of Lasius subumbratus that was murdered by a wild Camponotus major that fell into their foraging arena. I have another Lasius umbratus queen today that is laying eggs and waiting for her first workers.

 

I wrote this for fun. It is a little outdated at this time, but still covers a lot:

http://antfarm.yuku....arasites?page=1

I am in the process of writing a guide fitted specifically towards Lasius social parasites, making note of the different subgenera.

Edited by Batspiderfish, July 21 2016 - 5:42 AM.

[AntsMAN]

Here is my Lasius umbratus journal I just started a few weeks ago. And a thread I started on Lasius umbratus. I've had three successfully take to the host workers, and four died due to my ignorance. They don't seem to be that hard to keep, its just getting the host workers at just the right stage of development for the queen.

 

Batspiderfish, let me know if I can do anything to help you with your guide. As my journal progress' I should have a good amount of info, pic's and, video of Lasius umbratus.

 

http://www.formicult...s-journal-2016/

 

http://www.formicult...asius-umbratus/

Edited by AntsMAN, July 21 2016 - 7:35 AM.

[Nexus]

My advices on this wonderful family of ants (I have kept Formica pratensis, Lasius umbratus and Lasius fuliginosus)

1) I don't recommend them for the begginers because starting the colony is very delicate and the first workers are very long to come (and often begginners are too impatient. Also it often means stealing puppaes and brood from a natural colony and it is very diffucult not to damage the anthill and kill workers.

2) It's better if you take the brood from your own colony  instead of destroying a natural colony to get a few puppaes.

 

That said, here is my protocol for the adoption :

In all cases :

1) Put the queen in a test tube, in the dark.

2) Feed the queen (they have poor provisions with their small gaster) with sugary water or honey water.

 

Try finding a colony of Lasius sp (for Lasius parasites) and Serviformica sp (for Formica parasites) as soon as possible as the queens will only survive 1 to 2 weeks without slave workers.

 

1st method : to be sure your queen won't be killed

If you can find puppaes, take 15-30 puppaes with 5 workers and put them in a separate tube from the queen. Once a puppae is opened by the workers, kill the workers and put the newly born worker with the queen. The queen should get close to it and lick it to give its colonial odor. Once the adoption is done, add the other workers.

 

2nd method : a colony of Lasius of your own is required

put the queen in the foraging area. It will imitate the colonial odor of your colony (by licking all its body), get to the queen, kill her and take its place.

 

3rd method : your queen may die

Collect 20 workers in nature. Add them one by one with your queen. If the workers start biting the queen, separte them and repeat the operation until there is no sign of aggression.