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Post by naturekidmn on Feb 13, 2009 3:06:53 GMT
Is it possible for Myrmica rubra Queens to found a nest together or would they fight each other. Would they eat each others eggs or would they get along well while founding a nest?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Feb 13, 2009 9:00:58 GMT
Being a completely polygyn species, queens of Myrmica rubra often come together and remain together to found a colony. More often than not these young queens are related, being either sisters or cousins; but it has been known for unrelated queens to form an alliance and bond together, providing that is that there are no previous workers present. Myrmica queens do not seem to fight like those of monogyn ants, but worker ants of an already existing colony may not accept newly mated queens from unrelated foreign nests which may be hostile.
It is a fact however that foraging Myrmica workers, finding any newly mated queens which are related to them will drag them back into the parent nest, even if these queens are found a long distance (many yards or metres) away from the parent nest; whereupon these new queens are openly welcomed and where they become more egg laying mothers for the colony. Nesting colonies of Myrmica even expand by budding if they get very large, although not to the same extent as perhaps ants like Formica rufa and closely related species may do.
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Post by naturekidmn on Feb 13, 2009 15:10:45 GMT
Thanks for all the help
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Post by navydogxx on Mar 2, 2009 17:51:25 GMT
;)Hi, I have 3 ant colonies and started them last year, they now have baby ants, but don't know what to give them and how much; and what's good for the eggs. one of my queens still have eggs and 1 pupa ready to hatch, she hasn't dug into the soil and lets me open the lid and look in and move stuff about. is this normal? she doesn't run about, get scared or eat her eggs, or anything. it's like she is used to me lol do you think I will have to stop this when her baby ants hatch?
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Post by Wood~Ant on Mar 3, 2009 8:50:51 GMT
I take it you are talking about Myrmica rubra Navydog, as this thread is concerned with this species? If so, you will find that some ants will not become easily frightened by human activity, as your own queen does not seem bothered by you moving things. I have found that my Messor barbarus don't get at all phased by my fingers, and never attack me. Ants kept in captivity can behave differently from wild ants. Not tame exactly, but perhaps less aggressive than their wild cousins. Although this does not mean that worker ants in a captive nest will not attack, as they will defend the colony to the death if they feel it is being threatened. You may be able to continue doing things inside this colony, but be aware that too much will cause stress, so keep it down to a reasonable limit With regard to the feeding of your ants, either start a new thread with questions about this, or check out this board here} queenant.proboards82.com/index.cgi?board=food
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Post by formica on May 5, 2009 19:29:35 GMT
mrmica rubra do not adopt queens from other colonies unless the mated queens are from their own colonies.
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