I think I did it!

[deansyme]

Update 1/05/2015

Today I separated some queens and put them in test tubes.
In tube 1 was 4 queens, and 2 workers. In the other is 3 queens 1 worker.

This is the first time I have separated the captive queens for this experiment- to see if they can now found a successful colony.

In the video you can see the four queen group have already laid an egg after 3 hours so I know one is egg laying here,.

I will do regular updates on the progress.

Please note - I will not be selling any of the 40 odd captive mated queens as I can't guarantee which queens are fertile, hence this is the next stage of the experiment.

Again I will try and refine this captive mating experiment this year and hopefully with other species. The outcome will hopefully make many species more accessible to people and avoid destroying wild population where many species aren't so strong.

As always I hope this can become a forum experiment and we can share our knowledge and results. Enjoy the video.

[deansyme]

The 4 queen colony has laid more eggs as too has the 3 queen ( one of which I am sure is unmated but seems to be doing a workers role!).

I am also sending 7 queens from the tank to another collector on here to see if they have success under different conditions in founding a colony.

Attachments:

[deansyme]

Update

Videos of both the above colonies, showing more eggs laid

Colony 1




And colony 2