ANTSTORE World of Ants

[ItsJason]

Today, after months of waiting, I FINALLY found a large queen ant! I went camping this weekend, and 5 minutes before we left, she caught my eye, so I scooped her up and brought her home. Now she is in a test tube
Of course, I have no idea at all what specie she is, so I took some picts.



Ant identification help would be awesome. Also, this was found in Southern California, in the hills near a creek.
And how should she be behaving in the days before she starts laying eggs? Right now she is in the test tube (with nothing in it but her and a wet cotton ball) just sitting there, doing nothing, and occasionally walking around.
Thanks!
~Jason

[JimmyVe]

To be honest, i have no idea. How big is she ? That may help a bit.

Best way is to keep her covered in a tube. Make the tube: water/cotton/queen/cotton. She will sit there for a few days and if she is fertilized she will start laying eggs. After a while the workers will hatch and than it is time to start feeding the small colony.

[ItsJason]

OMG!!!!! She laid her first batch of eggs!!!!!! Having a queen ant has been a dream of mine since I was ten! Its finally happening! I am verrry excited
I just measured her. She is about 15 mm and her eggs are small, maybe .5-1mm.

And by the way, I kinda messed up the TT layout. Right now I just have a test tube with the queen inside, and then a wet cotton ball, and then a dry cotton ball (for a better seal). I am thinking of just periodically taking the cotton ball out and putting a new wet one in, or should I redo the whole thing?
Oh, and when do I have to start feeding her honey water/dead insects?
Thanks

[aka ant]

There is a ant list for North Carolina/Tennessee. Good chance that you might find your specie.
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[ItsJason]

Wow, thanks! I bookmarked it. I'll try it out when some workers hatch.
Here is the queen with her newly laid eggs.


Edit: Could it be formica fusca?
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[aka ant]

Still a bit hard to tell what specie she is. My friend has been keeping records of a small number of species that fly each year throughout the country.
His list may help out to narrowing down the Genus. Most Formica won't be flying till atleast June so my best guess would be Camponotus.

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[AndyB]

yes, i thought it was ligiperda at first. good luck with them mate.

from across the pond.
Andy

[pooball879]

it looks like somewhat Messor spec. or Camponotus species.