Click to view full story of "Messor capitatus polygyny"

Sphecomyrmex: Messor capitatus polygyny (19. Mai 2008 17:54)

Hi all,

I've two polyginous colonyes of Messor capitatus which i've picked from a field. I've never read that Messor's colonyes could be polyginous...there is anyone who knows about other cases as this?

Skippy: (19. Mai 2008 18:02)

hi ... practically is easy to make polygyn colony from a lot of "normally monogyn species" ... so it is probably able. But you must firstly research , if it doesnt making some bad works in colony. For example ... one queen eating eggs of second queen or what.... also , when is colony bigger , is chance that workers can kill one of the queen ;)

I´ve saw Messor structor polygyn colony and it was ok :)

JimmyVe: (19. Mai 2008 19:39)

They normally aren't polygyn but i heard of it before. (And like i said before, whit ants everything is possible. ;) )

Sphecomyrmex: (19. Mai 2008 20:52)

One of two colony has 6 queens...other colony has 2 queens. In the colony with 6 queens, i've see that queens attack other queens, and also attack major workers. But it's so rare...Then, sometime major workers attack other major workers. Workers don't attack queens. I know these small aggressions also happen in normal polyginous colonies of other ants, for instance Formica fusca...
It is true, with the ants everything can happen ;-) I know a breeder who has a Tetramorium's colony with two queens. However, this messor-question doesn't seem me an exception, because I know from the same breeder, that there are other breeders who have messor's polyginous colonyes. Indeed, i'm looking for other cases as these ;-)

Skippy: (19. Mai 2008 21:14)

I had polygyn Tetramorium colony with 25 queens ;) ... and to 2 months workers killed all queens , only one stayed alive :) ... so , for you is better to make more small colonies from that 6-gyn colony ... if you want all queens alive

-formica fusca is normal polygyn specie , I´ve never seen some complication or fights btw queens

Sphecomyrmex: (20. Mai 2008 12:37)

Tetramorium are pleometrotic. Colonyes are founded by multiple queen. Then, queens are killed by workers, and only one queen survive. Rarely, tetramorium's colonyes have more to one queen ;-)...

Messor aren't pleometrotic...

Skippy: (25. Mai 2008 14:33)

Here is what I wanna say ... I´ve found in nature big nest of Messor muticus with 6+ queens ... 4 I have in home ... (2 are JimmyVe´s) , 2 I have in formicarium with part of a colony

here is photo ;)