Click to view full story of "nuptial flight collection"

jon777: nuptial flight collection (19. Aug 2011 10:02)

Hello all

I have just noticed that all the lasius niger ants in my garden have stared thier nuptial flights today! :D

I have collected one queen (because it had shed its wings), however im unsure when to collect as it seems a bit early in the day?

Thanks for any help as this is my first time collecting during a flight!

Ants-Fan: Re: nuptial flight collection (19. Aug 2011 10:53)

Hello jon77,

The Queens that have wings, can`t lay eggs, the queens that haven´t wings,
can lay eggs. Wait when the ants are swarming. Then can you see very most Lasius niger queens on
streats, forests.... Good Luck (sory my English is not so good)

MfG Ants-Fan

Gortello: Re: nuptial flight collection (19. Aug 2011 14:38)

@ Ants-Fan
The gynes with whings can lay eggs but there is a big chance that they have not mated so the only produce male ants.

@ jon777
You can collect the ants when they lost their wings. It doesn't matter what time of the day, maybe they were from yesterday or the day before yesterday. Good luck with antkeeping ant also with catching a gyne.

jon777: Re: nuptial flight collection (20. Aug 2011 09:31)

thanks for the replies

I collected another later in the evening that had shed her wings so im quite hopfull about her.

I think you might be right gortello as some of the other queen had only one wing. There was also no males around. I thought they must have just emerged because they were all close to one of the nests in my garden. Also the larger colony hasnt flow yet, i thought they would all fly at the same time?