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A few days ago around where I live we had a very unpronounced and short (2 hours long) mating flight of the Lasius n iger. I only had one jar to catch them in but for some reason was diturmined to catch loads that day. On final count I had 52 mated queens all sharing one jar. Two days latter and I was about to order them all seperate tubes. before I do I go to check on them and I'm amazed to see instead of the 52 i started with there are now 8! I was too late they were starting to eat each other I thought and gave up the idea of keeping them and thought I would look at them for a few minuites then give them back to nature. This is the truly amazing bit all 8 queens have built a tight bond together and have layed around 30 eggs. I did some reaserch and found in rare cases two queens could start a colony but then after a while they fight and there will be only one left I just thought it was amazing that not only could 2 start a colony but it could go all the way up to 8! Maybie I will take a few pictures. i will make a diary and post it on here soon to keep you posted on my 8 queened lasius niger colony!
I'd love to see some pics and keep updated on this 8).
If they carry on coorperating that will be one fast growing colony!
Some times loads of queens will start a colony together if you put them in the same container, but even if all 8 live to see workers (very possible), they will start to fight, but if they don't fight, the workers will decide who rules and will give the rest the chop anyway.
Oh, and in the wild two queens starting a colony together maybe fairly rare, as they are unlikely to end up in the same hole, but in captivity, founding a colony with multiple queens is simple and common.
This would be my first colony. Do I feed the queens before the first workers are born or not? Also do I give them water?
They have to have water but they do not need food.. However interesting this experiment seems i would advise against keeping them together as they will eventualy kill each other and your either gonna be left with just one.. or none!!!
Thanks steve will water in cotton wool be alright? Also should I check on them daily or will this disturb them.
Well if i was you i'd have them in a test tube with cotton wool.. thats how ive got all my new queens.. and i caught them like at the start of the week and i only just checked them today.. so id leave them be.
This would be my first colony. Do I feed the queens before the first workers are born or not? Also do I give them water?
there is a care sheet and an excellent search function on this site :)
I have just put them into a much more sutible container with water and have put them in a dark area I have also put in about 15 of there eggs with them. I will now not check on them untill sometime during the working week. So that they have time to settle in. Once I do check on them I will start my diary post and take a few photos as well. Could anyone tell me how long it takes for an egg to turn into a worker. Thanks :D
search :)