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delete-3157: breeding queens? (10. Feb 2005 21:49)

hello
i just started to get the bugs of keeping ants, and while it won`t be for a while i was wondering how can peoples managed to breed their queen in captivity?
i means, from what i reads they breed while flying and then falls to the floor to start a new colonie, how can they do that in a antfarms, i got a big antfarms coming from this site i think it is call the ant appartment.
also, while i have received the colonie already (the beginner one Lasius nigers) i was wondering from pure curiosity what do you put in the test tube, they seems happy while waiting fro their new home inside, but i was wondering if there is only water or water with sugar at the end, of the tube, which is block by a cotton wools?
i have notice already some tiny little crystal appearing inside the tube is this food, eegs?
many thanks and looks for to your knowledge replies.
herve=crowpied :grin:

Stefan_K: (10. Feb 2005 23:04)

Hi crowpied,

I have moved your topic to this section of the board, as you had placed it into the wrong section.

I can answer your question on the water in the tube: it's pure water - nothing else (as far as I know). Once the ants have moved into the farm you should start feeding them with honey water, etc.

If there is something white in the tube, then it's most likely an egg. But maybe Martin can shed some light on this, as I am not completely sure whether there is sugar in the water, or not, which might cristalize ...

Martin might also be able to give you a proper answer to your question related to the flying queens. I'll ask him to have a look at your topic.

Greeting,

Stefan

Martin S.: (11. Feb 2005 00:37)

Hi crowpied,

for the first years, you will not get any flying ants.

Then, if you have any flying Queen, they will only start to fly if the can smell other colonies from the same species in the surrounding.

Greetings,

Martin