Jump to content

  • 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

Why have I found a wingless queen before a nuptial flight?

solenopsis queen fire ant weird

  • Please log in to reply
8 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted December 8 2016 - 6:11 PM

Connectimyrmex

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,864 posts
  • LocationAvon, Connecticut

Yesterday evening I found a group of fire ants preparing for a nuptial flight. I had to leave, so I just scooped as many as i could in an empty water bottle. When I got home, as expected, all queens and drones kept their wings except for one queen. One queen was showing signs of being mated, but obviously didn't fly. How did this happen?


Hawaiiant (Ben)

Keeper of
Miniature Labradoodle
Baby Wolf Spider
Mud Dauber wasp larvae
Ochetellus Glaber
Solenopsis Geminata
Brachymyrmex Obscurior
Cardiocondyla Emeryi
Tetramorium Bicarinatum
Plagiolepis Alluaudi
Anoplolepis Gracilipes
Technomyrmex Difficilis
Pheidole Megacephala
Aholehole fish
Cowrie snail
Sea Fan Worm
100+ sea squirts
Tree seedlings
Ghost Crab
Day Gecko
Small Fat Centipede
Endemic Lacewing larva
Vernal Pool shrimps

#2 Offline T.C. - Posted December 8 2016 - 6:17 PM

T.C.

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,059 posts

I have seen in myrmica species mate on the ground before like an inch away from the nest.  So it is possible she mated, but she also may not have? They will rip there wings off if they haven't mated  for whatever reason, confusion?


" Whatever You Are, Be a Good One "


#3 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted December 8 2016 - 6:19 PM

Connectimyrmex

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,864 posts
  • LocationAvon, Connecticut

Thanks for replying so fast!

I think you may be right, but I have never seen Solenopsis Geminata queens mate on the ground. They just popped out of the ground when I saw her, so that confused me. Maybe they were there for a while.


Hawaiiant (Ben)

Keeper of
Miniature Labradoodle
Baby Wolf Spider
Mud Dauber wasp larvae
Ochetellus Glaber
Solenopsis Geminata
Brachymyrmex Obscurior
Cardiocondyla Emeryi
Tetramorium Bicarinatum
Plagiolepis Alluaudi
Anoplolepis Gracilipes
Technomyrmex Difficilis
Pheidole Megacephala
Aholehole fish
Cowrie snail
Sea Fan Worm
100+ sea squirts
Tree seedlings
Ghost Crab
Day Gecko
Small Fat Centipede
Endemic Lacewing larva
Vernal Pool shrimps

#4 Offline Saftron - Posted December 8 2016 - 6:25 PM

Saftron

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 153 posts
  • LocationFremont, California

If they were preparing, it is most likely they are unmated and are infertile alates.



#5 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted December 8 2016 - 6:34 PM

Connectimyrmex

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,864 posts
  • LocationAvon, Connecticut

Yeah. Maybe that wingless queen just lost her wings when it eclosed. Either that or ZOMBIES ate her wings. its the walking dead


Hawaiiant (Ben)

Keeper of
Miniature Labradoodle
Baby Wolf Spider
Mud Dauber wasp larvae
Ochetellus Glaber
Solenopsis Geminata
Brachymyrmex Obscurior
Cardiocondyla Emeryi
Tetramorium Bicarinatum
Plagiolepis Alluaudi
Anoplolepis Gracilipes
Technomyrmex Difficilis
Pheidole Megacephala
Aholehole fish
Cowrie snail
Sea Fan Worm
100+ sea squirts
Tree seedlings
Ghost Crab
Day Gecko
Small Fat Centipede
Endemic Lacewing larva
Vernal Pool shrimps

#6 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted December 8 2016 - 6:34 PM

Batspiderfish

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,614 posts

Unmated queens will still tear off their wings.


  • LC3 likes this

If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

 

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

 

----

Black lives still matter.


#7 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted December 8 2016 - 6:40 PM

Connectimyrmex

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,864 posts
  • LocationAvon, Connecticut

I know, but I didn't know that they remove their wings that early. 20% of wingless Brachymyrmex Obscurior queens I catch are infertile, so I get plenty of wingless infertile queens, but I only find those quite a while after the flight.


Hawaiiant (Ben)

Keeper of
Miniature Labradoodle
Baby Wolf Spider
Mud Dauber wasp larvae
Ochetellus Glaber
Solenopsis Geminata
Brachymyrmex Obscurior
Cardiocondyla Emeryi
Tetramorium Bicarinatum
Plagiolepis Alluaudi
Anoplolepis Gracilipes
Technomyrmex Difficilis
Pheidole Megacephala
Aholehole fish
Cowrie snail
Sea Fan Worm
100+ sea squirts
Tree seedlings
Ghost Crab
Day Gecko
Small Fat Centipede
Endemic Lacewing larva
Vernal Pool shrimps

#8 Offline Mdrogun - Posted December 8 2016 - 7:10 PM

Mdrogun

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 943 posts
  • LocationGainesville, FL

Often times near the end of the year unmated queens will shed their wings and act as workers. I would imagine this queen was helping the alates take off.


Currently Keeping:
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis

Pheidole pilifera

Forelius sp. (Monogynous, bicolored) "Midwestern Forelius"
Crematogaster cerasi

Pheidole bicarinata

Aphaenogaster rudis

Camponotus chromaiodes

Formica sp. (microgena species)

Nylanderia cf. arenivega


#9 Offline Serafine - Posted December 9 2016 - 1:38 AM

Serafine

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,782 posts
  • LocationGermany

Wings or not doesn't say anything about fertilisation. Winged fertilized queens is absolutely normal, some queens do not throw off their wings until their second batch of workers.


We should respect all forms of consciousness. The body is just a vessel, a mere hull.

Welcome to Lazy Tube - My Camponotus Journal






Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: solenopsis, queen, fire ant, weird

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users