FredeP: Why is she so big? (16. Jul 2008 20:18)

Hello, I found a pictur of a Lasius niger queen, and she is really big, and I don't know why? Can she really be so big, when she get enough of foot?

JimmyVe: (16. Jul 2008 20:22)

Nice pictures. Yes this is normal, it means she is full of eggs and body fat. It is a good sine. Sometimes you can see this big gaster from workers. (they are full of food than)

ratgreen: (16. Jul 2008 20:41)

thats one fat Niger, i wish my queen looked like that

maxfly: (16. Jul 2008 20:51)

Very nice pict and queen!

Skippy: (16. Jul 2008 21:32)

Yes , she is full of eggs :) ... queen like this in formicarium during all year is wish you are a good ant-keeper :lol:

FredeP: (17. Jul 2008 16:22)

Can u see on the queen if she is good mate? Because I just though u only can see if she have got much food?(:

And, is Lasius f lavus harder to keep then Lasius n iger or is that the same?
- and is a Myrmica r ubra hard to keep? (sorry for the wrong spelling). (:

JimmyVe: (18. Jul 2008 15:09)

These species are a bit the same like Lasius niger . They are pretty easy to keep.

Can u see on the queen if she is good mate?

What do you mean with that ?

Skippy: (18. Jul 2008 15:32)

I think he mean , if you can see if is she only good feeded , or if is she full of eggs. Yes you can ;) , but you could to see it maybe later when you will have more experience. When is she good feeded , like when she is starting colony , gaster is full btw first and second segment, a bit also btw second and third (from head side). At this time is hard to see if she is full of eggs , because gaster is fat. But later in bigger colony , you can see in egg-lay period how is btw 2 last segments (end of gaster) more far between - reproductive organs are growing and she is making eggs. It is hard to tell this story , but later as I´ve told , you will see it ;) , the best to see is it on Formicinae species , prefer Camponotus , Formica and Lasius

FredeP: (18. Jul 2008 18:04)

Thx alot! :D
So after 2-3 years u can see it better?(:
And it's it stupid if I wanted a Myrmica Rubra, or shall I wait?

Skippy: (18. Jul 2008 18:22)

Yes , when si colony bigger and queen do not have so much fat , you can see it better ;)
In Myrmica colony it is more hard to see , but when is Myrmica full of eggs , her gaster is more light ... and bigger ;)