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Posted December 19 2016 - 10:43 AM
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Hello all, I was thinking of giving my queen a worker. She just has larvae, and she wouldn't eat hardly anything when I took her out of hibernation to feed her because she was so skinny. I am thinking of taking her out and giving her a worker here soon. Anyone have any experience in this?
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Posted December 19 2016 - 11:07 AM
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I personally haven't done this before, just let her do her thing she'll be fine if she is healthy. But if you are going to, I'd choose a small callow worker and put it in for the remainder of hibernation. I take my larger colonies out once a month during hibernation for a sugar boost.
Current queens/colonies
Camponotus novaeboracensis x2
Camponotus pennsylvanicus x2
Camponotus herculeanus x1
Formica sp. x1
Lasius americanus x1 (Lasius alienus)
Lasius neoniger x1
Crematogastor cerasi x1
Myrmica sp. x1
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Posted December 19 2016 - 11:11 AM
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hmmm... thanks. I woulld get the worker out of my house, they are everywhere. So you think a small worker rather than something like a major?
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Posted December 19 2016 - 11:18 AM
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Definately not a major. The smaller worker will help more.
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Posted December 19 2016 - 11:23 AM
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Awesome, that is mostly what the ones in our house are. Not many majors.
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Posted December 19 2016 - 11:30 AM
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Awesome, that is mostly what the ones in our house are. Not many majors.
I'd still be careful as these ants are foraging workers and will probably attack. I'd make sure both queen and worker are cooled down before putting them together, to avoid any potential harm.
Current queens/colonies
Camponotus novaeboracensis x2
Camponotus pennsylvanicus x2
Camponotus herculeanus x1
Formica sp. x1
Lasius americanus x1 (Lasius alienus)
Lasius neoniger x1
Crematogastor cerasi x1
Myrmica sp. x1
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Posted December 19 2016 - 11:39 AM
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Awesome, that is mostly what the ones in our house are. Not many majors.
I'd still be careful as these ants are foraging workers and will probably attack. I'd make sure both queen and worker are cooled down before putting them together, to avoid any potential harm.
Ok, thank you.
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Posted December 19 2016 - 12:50 PM
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Ant Species kept
Temnothorax Longispinosus.-Journal(discontinued)-(formerly)
Camponotus Noveboracensis (formerly)
Camponotus Nearticus-formerly
Tetramorium sp.-formerly
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus Queen & brood.-formerly
Tapinoma Sessile-Journal (3 queen colony)-formerly
Tapinoma Sessile #2 (2 queen colony)-formerly
Aphaenogaster Picea-Journal-active
Crematogaster sp.(Cerasi or Lineolata) Queen with 3 workers and brood-formerly
Crematogaster sp. #2 (Cerasi or Lineolata) Queen with brood-formerly
Formica sp. polygenus-active 300+ workers-active
Formica Subsericea-active 25+ workers-active
Myrmica Rubra 400+ workers 3 queens-active
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Posted December 19 2016 - 1:05 PM
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I didn't know u could add workers from a different colony to a fertile queen.
Sometimes they will accept them if they are in need, however it is a dangerous process, for both the queen and the worker.
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Posted December 19 2016 - 1:12 PM
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The worker might see the queen as food for their own colony.
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Posted December 19 2016 - 1:24 PM
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Generally Camponotus workers will adapt a new queen if they've been in isolation for around 3 months according to Crystals and some other accounts.
Foraging ants tend to be the colonie's eldest workers so they're not very optimal for adoption.
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Posted December 30 2016 - 6:51 PM
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Generally Camponotus workers will adapt a new queen if they've been in isolation for around 3 months according to Crystals and some other accounts.
Foraging ants tend to be the colonie's eldest workers so they're not very optimal for adoption.
this
the workers you see foraging are NOT the best candidates for introducing to a new queen. they are the eldest ants in that colony.
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