ANTSTORE World of Ants

[sithmaster676]

i was wondering if anyone you had kept the species Myrmica rubra had any experience with keeping more than one queen in the colony
and whether it is better than just having only a single queen
Thanks
Sithmaster676

[Fabian]

Hi, i have 2 - 3 Queens and in my opinion it's better, about 3 Queens do as many eggs as 1 Lasius niger queen.

[mpir]

I didn't keep Myrmica rubra yet so I don't have experience with this species. I plan to keep them this year.

However I don't think that 3 Myrmica rubra queens lay as much eggs as 1 Lasius niger queen. In lots of ant species where there are polygin queens only one lays eggs. One of the queens estabishes dominance over other queens so other queens don't lay eggs. In some species queens also fight. I'm not saying this is the case with Myrmica rubra as I don't have experience with them. It's more like general note.

[JimmyVe]

Hi Sith,
I keep them, now over a year, it is a fine colony with 1 queen. Most colony's of Myrmica rubra has more queens.
It is true what mpir says, for most species.

I keep them in an Y-tong nest. Room temperature and the nest a little wet. I feed them bugs and honey, they love sweetness.
They can also sting you.

If you have more questions just ask.

[Fabian]

Yes, mpir is right with in what he says for most species but not for Myrmica rubra. If there are more than one Queen they normaly all lay eggs.

[sithmaster676]

thanks for all of your help
i am planning on capturing a colony in the spring and gather around 3 queens several workers and brood from a large colony

@ jimmyve: how well do myrmica rubra live in captivity and have you got any tips for keeping them
thanks
Sithmaster676

[JimmyVe]

I keep them in an Y-tong nest. Room temperature and the nest a little wet. I feed them bugs and honey, they love sweetness.
They can also sting you.

They live fine in captivity, i keep them in a farm from 40*40*40, the nest area is about 40*25*6.

[Chalky723]

I've just got some - I have 5 queens & about 50 workers (there were over 15 queens in the nest!!!).

They're really busy & have dug quite impressive tunnels already!

I enjoy watching them - got stung quite a bit collecting them though!!

Chalky

[JimmyVe]

I enjoy watching them - got stung quite a bit collecting them though!!

That i can believe.

If you can, place some pictures. Always nice to see.