methuselah: Replace existing colony with a new one? (8. Dez 2007 00:08)

I have a small colony of Pheidole pallidula. The queen is unfortunately died for some reason, leaving behind about 10 workers, and one soldier.

My question is it possible to buy another batch of the same species and put them into the same formicarium? I mean, will the old batch of ants work alongside and adsorb into the new colony and vice versa?

Any reason why queen would die? The formicarium is always kept moist. I notice she does not eat since late september, persumably is getting into hibernation period.

Mr.Q: (9. Dez 2007 01:18)

You can get new queen and try to get her adopt by lonley workers by putting them into fridge (temp. about 5-7 'C) and then let into new queen. Should work, i didn't had any problems.

Sphecomyrmex: (9. Dez 2007 09:38)

This event could happen in nature too? For Example...after an hibernation?

Thanks

Mr.Q: (9. Dez 2007 13:57)

Yes, of course!

Best examples are: Lasius niger, Formica fusca/lemanii, and some Messors. In nature also this happens in different way - colony without queen for a long time can take new queen after swarming flights to nest and adopt her.

Regards, Mr.Q

Sphecomyrmex: (9. Dez 2007 15:07)

Excuse me for my questions, but this is very interesting,

The queen can make to be adopted using pheromones, like in the usurpation, or she is adopted from workers without a reason?

Thank.

JimmyVe: (9. Dez 2007 17:15)

Any reason why queen would die? The formicarium is always kept moist. I notice she does not eat since late september, persumably is getting into hibernation period.

That just happens sometimes, not much you can do about it.

Mr.Q has experience with adopting other queens to a old colony. I don't but as he told it could be possible so its worth a try. ;)

Mr.Q: (9. Dez 2007 19:53)

hello all!

Sphecomyrmex, You're right in one of two ways of adopting. If You have small amount of workers, and they taken out of cold, when You'll put non-cooled queen, she will start to run and spray pheromons (like F.rufa, F.polyctena, F. sanguinea, L.fuliginosus etc). But if colony is very very big and it has no queen, some workers just will be sprayed, and rest of workers will accept new queen after smelling new just new pheromons inside nest and on their own workers.

methuselah: (10. Dez 2007 09:42)

Thanks for all your feedback. This give me a slight comfort, that at least I do not need to resetting up the formicarium.

But do you think is this the right time to buy the new batch of ants, considering the fact that is middle of the winter? Or shall I put them in room temperature and let them establish the nest before lower the temperature to hibernate them?

What does phidole pelidula usually eat? I wonder is the ants change their appetite in different seasons?

Thanks in advance for any of your valuable feedback :)

Sphecomyrmex: (10. Dez 2007 14:25)

Methuselah: <<What does phidole pelidula usually eat? I wonder is the ants change their appetite in different seasons?>>

I haven't experience with Ph. Pallidula, but i think these ant eat insect, above all, and honeywater. Pheidole Pallidula's workers forage collectively, then i think these ant eat big insect too.

In winter, you could give them commercial meat, if you don't find any insect: i have tryed this feeding with my Lasius Niger, and i've seen, they often prefer more the commercial meat that the dead insects.

Regards,
Thanks very much to Mr.Q, your information is very useful for me. :)

JimmyVe: (10. Dez 2007 16:33)

What does phidole pelidula usually eat? I wonder is the ants change their appetite in different seasons?

I give mine a lot of insects, small seeds and honey (sugar/water) they love it all. In winter when they are in hibernation i to give them some insects but not much, once a week ore so. They do not eat much when they are in hibernation (like all other species). Still make sure they have fresh water to drink.

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