ANTSTORE World of Ants

[methuselah]

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]

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]

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


Thanks

[Mr.Q]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Sphecomyrmex]

JimmyVe: Where could i put the water, for my lasius niger's colony?

Methuselah: when the colony is formed from few worker exemplary, often the honeywater is not pleasant from workers. Give them the honeywater, only when the colony is big. Now, give them only insect or meat. Then, in meat there are many proteins, necessary for larvae's development.

Regards

[methuselah]

Thanks for all the feedback. It is interesting too see different ant species and their colony sizes seems to prefer different type of food.

But, do you think I should get a new batch of pheidole pellidula now or wait till march next year? I am aware different species may behave differently during winter period. But how about this particular species? Do they still wandering around in temperature 10-15 C?

I have notice a worker pull out the queen's dead body and some other ants surround her, presumably eating her?

[KiamCameron]

hmm so say like i walk around in my garden and take about 6 lasius niger ants from a colony and put them in the fridge then let in a new queen they accept like that?

[JimmyVe]

But how about this particular species? Do they still wandering around in temperature 10-15 C?

Some of them walk around, but very slow and they don't do much.

hmm so say like i walk around in my garden and take about 6 lasius niger ants from a colony and put them in the fridge then let in a new queen they accept like that?

Don't know, never tried that out myself. (maybe Mr.Q tried it already ?)


@Sphecomyrmex: which water do you mean ? To keep the nest moist ore for the ants to drink ? If it is to drink you better put it in the out world.

[Sphecomyrmex]

JimmyVe: yes, water to drink for workers...i've a "plaster nest" (is it said this way?), and if plaster is too moist, there will be mushrooms. Where could i put the water to drink for workers? Is OK, if i put some water drops on glass who recover the nest? How do you?
Thanks

KiamCameroon: your question is very interesting...i think the workers accept the queen, but ask Mr.Q replie