ANTSTORE World of Ants

[AndyB]

My Lasius niger queen of just over a year suddenly died for no reason and got cut up and eaten. It was my first successful colony and i dont want it to die out...):
i have tried two times to introduce new queens but they were attacked so i took them out alive.
Is there anyone on the antstore interwebz that could give me anytips on how to do it because its desperate.

Thanks guys

[iNstinCt]

Oh, thats a real pity.
Unfortunately Lasius niger don't accept new queens.
So you will not have sucess introducing a new one.

[AndyB]

...............Sadface It was my first colony aswell. that sucks

[insanebe]

Oh, thats a real pity.
Unfortunately Lasius niger don't accept new queens.
So you will not have sucess introducing a new one.

well i did it, i had 2 colonies one with 8 ants the other with 11, one queen died so i merged them together, 1 worker ant at a time

but i doubt you will get a large colony to accept a new queen, but maybe you could get your new queens to accept new workers

[AndyB]

Hmmmmmmm This sounds interesting, the only problem is that the colony is about 70+ with alot of eggs and pupea. should making the colony cold help(slowing them down aswell as the queen)?

[ProXi]

You should try to add the queen while your antcolony is in hibernation.
I've once heard that when they will awake after hibernation, they accept the new queen.
Not sure if it works though

[insanebe]

You should try to add the queen while your antcolony is in hibernation.
I've once heard that when they will awake after hibernation, they accept the new queen.
Not sure if it works though

heard that aswell but never tried it, and im skeptical a large colony would let a foreign queen enter the nest, ants use scent recognition but workers seperated from a colony lose this scent and i think thats how i was able to add 1 worker at a time, i suppose a queen might change her scent to that of the colony or the other way round, if you can stop them from killing her that is .

maybe you could try both techniques, add the queen after she has been accepted by a few workers and when the colony is hibernating, let us know how it goes im curious to see if it works

[SteveUK28]

That really is bad news.. I have only heard of this being done with small colonies and while they was in hibernation or false hibernation.. or the one worker at a time...

Perhaps you could try the false hibernation and place the colony in a fridge for say 10 mins.. then put the new queen in...

Anyways good luck whatever you decide.

[AndyB]

the only problem i have is the colony are in a ytong and only a few come out to the old test tube at a time. im thinking i should catch a couple then and put them with the queen 1 by one, what do you guys think????

[JimmyVe]

Still, always a risk, but it's worth a try.