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jeoff82: Slave makers? (14. Jul 2009 10:14)

Are Myrmica r ubra slave maker ants? I put shed loads 150+ of lava from another colony in the nest of about 30 strong yesterday. They are moving the lava into the ytong with the queen, is this for food or will they bring them up as their own?

I also put a couple of the Myrmica rubra lava into my Niger nest, they too have taken them back to the main nest, what will they do with them?

damondeionno: Re: Slave makers? (14. Jul 2009 10:50)

In the first example the Myrmica rubra will raise the larvae as their own. This wouldn't really be described as slave making behaviour.

The niger will likely eat the rubra larvae. Lasius and Myrmica are very different.

Be careful swapping larvae and pupae, it can easily spread disease between colonies.

jeoff82: Re: Slave makers? (14. Jul 2009 11:25)

Ok thanks for the advise.