8 replies to this topic

[theneuro]

I recently stumbled upon a Solenopsis Invicta colony presumably migrating to a new nest. I was able to capture a little over ten queens, as well as a few workers. I am currently keeping them in a small starter formicarium, where they have adjusted quite well.

Now that the queens will be kept in close approximation to each other, will they kill each other? Will they be okay with only a small amount of workers? What should I be feeding them? Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Mdrogun]

Can you give us some pictures of this colony? Unfortunately, it's likely that you found virgin queens that will be unable to produce worker offspring. In the future, you should search for queens you see wandering on the ground without wings. They should not have any workers with them.

[theneuro]

None of them had wings, so I assumed they had already mated. Is it a common occurrence for virgin queens to shed their wings prematurely?

http://imgur.com/a/ACSyX

Edited by theneuro, March 23 2017 - 7:20 PM.

[Works4TheGood]

None of them had wings, so I assumed they had already mated. Is it a common occurrence for virgin queens to shed their wings prematurely?
http://imgur.com/a/ACSyX

My guess is that they're fertile then.

[T.C.]

None of them had wings, so I assumed they had already mated. Is it a common occurrence for virgin queens to shed their wings prematurely?http://imgur.com/a/ACSyX

My guess is that they're fertile then.

Hmm... I think I am going to have to go against this. Selenopsis queens have been well known to remove their wings in colonies, remaining infertile and act more like workers within the colony. Although I may be wrong. It would be interesting to see if they are fertile. I recommend you keep them @theneuro and see if you get workers.

[Works4TheGood]

 

 

None of them had wings, so I assumed they had already mated. Is it a common occurrence for virgin queens to shed their wings prematurely?http://imgur.com/a/ACSyX

My guess is that they're fertile then.

Hmm... I think I am going to have to go against this. Selenopsis queens have been well known to remove their wings in colonies, remaining infertile and act more like workers within the colony. Although I may be wrong. It would be interesting to see if they are fertile. I recommend you keep them @theneuro and see if you get workers.

I'll trust to your expertise. I don't know specifics on this species since they haven't reached State College, PA yet.  Sounds like they're pretty oddball.

Edited by Works4TheGood, March 24 2017 - 4:54 AM.

[Works4TheGood]

Oops!  I accidentally submitted a duplicate post

Edited by Works4TheGood, March 24 2017 - 4:54 AM.

[Leo]

well if you found them with multiple queens, might be fine

[Alabama Anter]

Where are you from? In the gulf states, it is VERY common for huge colonies to have multiple queens. I have seen colonies with queens buried 1 inch from the surface that are fertile.