Myrmica rubra nuptial flight

[jameslovell]

Decided a film a Myrmica rubra nuptial flight taking place

As you can see there are usually hundreds of them flying around and walking on the floor in a fairly concentrated area. Most of these are males with the odd female. When a female is found then they are completely surrounded by lots of males.

I know a fair few of you might not of seen this particular species mating before so though it would be worth showing you.

Apologies for the advertising at the very end!

[Jenny]

A great video James It's not very often you catch a Rubra colony in flight. Did you manage to collect any queens? Don't tell me you had no pots

[jameslovell]

Hi Jenant,

I had already collected a number of newly mated queens from an earlier date and different location.

I collected a few but when I first saw it I didn't have my camcorder. When I came back to film there didn't seem to be as many queens around but collected a few anyway.

I currently have a number of newly mated queens and nearly all of them if not all of them have laid eggs

Last year I put lots of queens together thinking they would make a colony together. But I think this stopped them laying eggs and made them fight instead so this time round they have all been seperated and it seems to of done the trick so far.

They are harder to raise a new colony from than Lasius sp as they don't like it to get too dry and they have more of an appetite so I'm going to see how it goes.