ANTSTORE World of Ants

[ratgreen]

I read a post the other day about Myrmica rubra and how once the colony gets too big it may split and form 2 separate colonies and acquire a different scent.
then surely once the colony sends out alates then the ants will think that they are mating with a different colony (but really it may be there long lost brother or sister(its a bit screwed up i know)). this is so i could breed new colonies from 1 colony.
also i would like to have two colonies, which would be another reason to split them.
Would this work?
i am asking this because i am getting a colony with 4+ queens and loads of workers so the colonies would still survive if i split them up.

[Kale^^]

You can split the colony, just be careful not to harm the ants.
Dont worry about the alates, the queens arent identical, so once you have splitted they really are different colonies and the queens and males aren't really related.

[miszt]

Ratgreen, as I explained on the other thread, it is perfectly natrual for many ant species to mate within their own 'family', its not a problem

The thing I'd worry about most splitting a Myrmica colony is getting stung lol shuldnt have any other problems

[ratgreen]

well my colony arrived today! from this amazing seller that i would highly recomend to anyone(PM me)
I think i got stung and it didnt hurt at all
pics in a second!

[ratgreen]

Kinda off, topic, but pictures of my new colony.

[JimmyVe]

Nice very nice. Looks like a big colony. Did you already split them up ? Or are you going to try that later on.

[ratgreen]

mmmm im still thinking about it, i want a big colony ,but at the same time 2 colonys would be cool but means more work and a smaller colony. I think i will just leave it as one big colony, as i have made a big ytong thats for a big colony.

Also is there a way of telling apart the queens from the workers as i have seen 1 queen, and there is 4? there slightly bigger and ______________?

[JimmyVe]

It is really hard to tell the queens from the workers, they look pretty much the same and some of them are not bigger than a worker. If you could take really close pictures you could see the places where the wings where attached to the queens. The workers don't have that.

[SteveUK28]

As jimmy said rat its very very hard to tell the queens apart.. i waited untill they was in the ytong then took some close up pics.. and then i think i counted around 6 queens... They are Slightly bigger and a little fatter.. and i also think the middle of them is a little darker.. just my experience lol Anyways they look very very good mate.. Hope they do well for you

[mpir]

I've no idea what are you guys talking about. Also with Myrmica rubra it is fairly easy to tell apart the queen. If nothing else the thorax of the queen is much bigger than thorax of the worker.

See the photo, the two queens are encircled.

[ratgreen]

yer i am making a ytong now(pics later) so i will be able too see the queens better then. ty for the pics.

[MilitANT]

Ratgreen:

I see a Queen in the second pic.

[JimmyVe]

@ mpir: i have 3 queens in my colony (i know because i added 2 ) and the 2 i added where not bigger than a average worker. The older queen that started the colony is a little bigger. There is also much variation in the size of the queens. (in every species)

[ratgreen]

@MilitANT: yer thats the only queen i seen(the male pupea in the middle and then up a bit?)

[MilitANT]

That's the one, ratgreen. Lot of males and male pupae too. Any reproductive females?