Queen Ant?

[SalticusScenicusStar]

So I believe I found a queen ant but am unsure. Is it a queen ant? What species is it? Do I need to feed it something other than water?

 

[WhiteMoss]

That's definitely a queen. Too blurry to tell looks like a Lasius or Camponotus, but could be something else. Not familiar with the ants in your area.

Feeding will depend on what it is, whether or not it's fully or semi claustral. You'll need to know the species to know that. Typically though it doesn't hurt to a TINY drop of honey. If it's fully claustral it doesn't need it, but will likely gladly eat some.

Look up test tube set ups for how to set her up. Ants Canada has a lot of informative videos on youtube.

Good luck. Beauty queen!

 

[IvanOoze]

Hi,

Where was this found? The pic is very blurry so its very hard to ID. (Kinda looks like a Lasius sp but almost impossible to tell with the information provided)
If it is a queen you should be able to see 2 scars on either side of its thorax ( where its wings would have been) and until its had its first batch of eggs it wont need to eat anything other than clean drinking water and possibly a little honey. It will live off the muscle supply that was used for its wings in the meantime.

These are fairly easy to keep in a test tube setup.

 

[SalticusScenicusStar]

Thanks! I found it on my house entrance climbing a fence. It's in NJ by the way if that's what you are asking. It was rather fast and was able to squeeze through many things.

She isn't moving for some reason, her antennae move a little, but she is just stationary. Is this normal?

 

[WhiteMoss]

Yes it's normal. She could be sleeping (they sleep in like 2 min. Increments throughout the day and night) or she could just be cleaning the set up she's in. They do best if kept in the dark. If your love myself and can't resist checking up on/watching them you can get a transparent red plastic/film to cover her with and you'll be able to see her through it, but it'll be dark to her (They can't see red)

 

[Jonathan6303]

Thanks! I found it on my house entrance climbing a fence. It's in NJ by the way if that's what you are asking. It was rather fast and was able to squeeze through many things.

She isn't moving for some reason, her antennae move a little, but she is just stationary. Is this normal?

How big is it

 

[SalticusScenicusStar]

It's 4-5 mm.

 

[SalticusScenicusStar]

My queen ant produced 3 eggs I think. Why such low numbers of brood?

 

[IvanOoze]

Her first lot of workers will be the Nanitics and they are generally a lot smaller than the rest of her future eggs and you find she will gradually lay more in the next coming weeks. it won't be a lot as she is using her muscle storage at the moment to keep her going. Try adding a drop of honey with her, keep her dark and warm with little disturbance and she will gradually lay more eggs. A little tip and I'm not sure if it'll work for you but it did for me. Once your new workers hatch and its time to add protein. Try using prawns dipped in a little honey. I found my Lasius sp's quite fussy but as soon as I added prawns my colony exploded with numbers. I hope that helps.

 

[Jonathan6303]

It's 4-5 mm.

Look up tapinoma sessile. Check out formiculture for more info. Look up test tube setup

Her first lot of workers will be the Nanitics and they are generally a lot smaller than the rest of her future eggs and you find she will gradually lay more in the next coming weeks. it won't be a lot as she is using her muscle storage at the moment to keep her going. Try adding a drop of honey with her, keep her dark and warm with little disturbance and she will gradually lay more eggs. A little tip and I'm not sure if it'll work for you but it did for me. Once your new workers hatch and its time to add protein. Try using prawns dipped in a little honey. I found my Lasius sp's quite fussy but as soon as I added prawns my colony exploded with numbers. I hope that helps.

The queen is fully claustral so no food is needed until nantics arrive

My queen ant produced 3 eggs I think. Why such low numbers of brood?

It’s been only a few days.

 

[Jonathan6303]

.

 

[Jonathan6303]

.

 

[IvanOoze]

The queen is fully claustral so no food is needed until nantics arrive

Of course she is.it's why I recommended adding protein once the first workers arrive. I always add a little honey to the water during all stages though.

 

[Jonathan6303]

Of course she is.it's why I recommended adding protein once the first workers arrive. I always add a little honey to the water during all stages though.

Liquids too. They could drown in liquids(especially small queens). It also could lead to molding if just a little honey is smeared on the side of a test tube. I’ve experienced all of these scenarios.

 

[IvanOoze]

Apologies i should have been clearer in my explanation. I was assuming OP was using a test tube setup with water stored in the back end using the cotton wool method . I add a little honey to the water but I do experience mold growth within the cotton wool, but once I'm at that stage I move them into their permanent nest.I have also experienced these scenarios but its never affected the numbers so they decline.

 

[SalticusScenicusStar]

I did give her some liquified peanut butter, but it was left alone and it grew mold so I had to remove it. She seems to only drink water and reject anything else. She often "licks" her eggs and brushes them.

 

[SalticusScenicusStar]

Urgent news! My queen ant left her eggs! She is a little far from her eggs and isn't moving much. She is alive and in ok health condition, but why did she ditch her eggs, or did she just take a break?

 

[Jonathan6303]

Urgent news! My queen ant left her eggs! She is a little far from her eggs and isn't moving much. She is alive and in ok health condition, but why did she ditch her eggs, or did she just take a break?

Photo of setup. Also for the queen to found 0 disturbance necessary like shaking.