ANTSTORE World of Ants

[FredeP]

Hello, I found a pictur of a Lasius niger queen, and she is really big, and I don't know why? Can she really be so big, when she get enough of foot?

[JimmyVe]

Nice pictures. Yes this is normal, it means she is full of eggs and body fat. It is a good sine. Sometimes you can see this big gaster from workers. (they are full of food than)

[ratgreen]

thats one fat Niger, i wish my queen looked like that

[maxfly]

Very nice pict and queen!

[Skippy]

Yes , she is full of eggs ... queen like this in formicarium during all year is wish you are a good ant-keeper

[FredeP]

Can u see on the queen if she is good mate? Because I just though u only can see if she have got much food?(:

And, is Lasius flavus harder to keep then Lasius niger or is that the same?
- and is a Myrmica rubra hard to keep? (sorry for the wrong spelling). (:

[JimmyVe]

These species are a bit the same like Lasius niger. They are pretty easy to keep.

Can u see on the queen if she is good mate?

What do you mean with that ?

[Skippy]

I think he mean , if you can see if is she only good feeded , or if is she full of eggs. Yes you can , but you could to see it maybe later when you will have more experience. When is she good feeded , like when she is starting colony , gaster is full btw first and second segment, a bit also btw second and third (from head side). At this time is hard to see if she is full of eggs , because gaster is fat. But later in bigger colony , you can see in egg-lay period how is btw 2 last segments (end of gaster) more far between - reproductive organs are growing and she is making eggs. It is hard to tell this story , but later as I´ve told , you will see it , the best to see is it on Formicinae species , prefer Camponotus , Formica and Lasius

[FredeP]

Thx alot!
So after 2-3 years u can see it better?(:
And it's it stupid if I wanted a Myrmica Rubra, or shall I wait?

[Skippy]

Yes , when si colony bigger and queen do not have so much fat , you can see it better
In Myrmica colony it is more hard to see , but when is Myrmica full of eggs , her gaster is more light ... and bigger

[FredeP]

But it's to soon for me to buy a new colony with Myrmica Rubra? Because I like ant's were they are pologyn.
- but do any one know any Lasius there are pologyn?(:
And thx Skippy

[Skippy]

You can buy Myrmica rubra (I can send you some) , and you will see ...
... Lasius niger is not normally polygyn , but I am trying to make polygyn colonie (now I have some tubes with 2 queens and brood) ,,,, but probably later will workers kill them , but anything can they do , so maybe I will have som polygyn colony

[FredeP]

If u will pm me, and send some picture and more info about your Myrmica Rubra(:
- And how did u get them to be 2 queens in one tube?(:

[Skippy]

hmm normally , it is possible to start new colony with more queens by much species (lasius , a lot myrmecinae etc...) , so it is not problem. Answer is , if workers will kill one queen or no

[FredeP]

So if I catch 2 new queens, so I can put them in the same tube, and hope the 2 queens don't attack each other?(:
- But can I buy a Myrmica Rubra colony of u, with more than 2 queens, but not so many workers or what? Have u have home page or some think, so I can see what u have?(: