Has anyone started this species from new queens? I was recently given 3 queens. I have each in a dirt filled vial. I keep the dirt moist and the temp at
70F. Any idea how long it takes for the first workers to appear? Do the eggs need to be exposed to cold to break diapause? Roughly how large do colonies get?
Any other info would be greatly appreciated as well!!
Thanks!
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Prenolepis imparis
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 Hypoponera |
Prenolepis imparis |
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Adult Worker Ant Posts: 273 07/03/2009 9:35 PM |
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narai10 |
#1 | |||
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Minor Worker Ant Posts: 126 07/04/2009 12:29 AM |
Prenolepis imparis? You just received queens of this species just now? They flew all the way back in March/April, and mine already have their first workers
which enclosed 3 weeks ago, so I hopew that gives you a good idea of how long it takes for the first workers to be born. But seriously, to have queens of this
species withut any type of brood at the moment is strange to me. Are you sure they are Prenolepis imparis, maybe its a misidentification.
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Vulgaris |
#2 | |||
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Major Worker Ant Posts: 493 07/04/2009 6:50 AM |
Yes I agree they flew a while ago. I caught my queen in April
she had a large pile of eggs by may 3rd, and by June 24th she had two workers. Now she has about 6 workers and a large pile of brood. The temps should be kept normal. Mine did fine under normal temps with the rest of my ants |
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bhkid |
#3 | |||
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Adult Worker Ant Posts: 211 07/04/2009 10:05 AM |
Hey vulgaris how many ant colonies do you have?
Your Signature ... http://theantkeepersforum.myfunforum.org/index.php
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bhkid |
#4 | |||
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Adult Worker Ant Posts: 211 07/04/2009 10:05 AM |
Hey vulgaris how many ant colonies do you have?
Your Signature ... http://theantkeepersforum.myfunforum.org/index.php
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MrILoveTheAnts |
#5 | |||
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TAFMF Addict Posts: 3667 07/04/2009 10:14 AM |
There are a number of Formica species who's queens might be similar colored, and sized if not a little bigger currently flying all over the US.
If they are P. imparis then I'd suggest feeding them some and hopefully they'll lay. If they're Formica queens then they should start as normal... though Formica sometimes benefit from being fed before the first workers hatch. |
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Hypoponera |
#6 | |||
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Adult Worker Ant Posts: 273 07/04/2009 3:47 PM |
The queens were sent to me with a shipment of mantids from New York. They were caught in April I believe. I have been doubtful that these are fertile, let
alone properly IDed. I may just need to crack open the vials and take a look. Hence why I was asking about when the first workers were to arrive. A small
formica species isn't what I want, but will make do as a Pogo replacement.
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narai10 |
#7 | |||
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Minor Worker Ant Posts: 126 07/04/2009 5:20 PM |
Queens ants were shipped to you!? As far as I know that is illegal in the US at least without a permit. Also, it would be helpful if you could post a picture
of them so IDing your queens will be easier.
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 antdude |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 18808 07/04/2009 5:36 PM
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Hypoponera wrote: Hypononera: Please kindly e-mail me who sent you these queen ants since this is illegal?
Quote of the Week: "I've been on some fairways that are as good as the greens we putted on back then. We had crab grass. I remember one
green where I putted through ants." --Sam Snead. Ant/AntDude @ The Ant Farm (Personal Web Site), Ant's
Quality Foraged Links (AQFL), and The Ant Farm and Myrmecology
Forum.
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Hypoponera |
#9 | |||
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Adult Worker Ant Posts: 273 07/04/2009 5:37 PM |
You are right in regards to the legality. But I did not pack the box. I had asked for several male mantids for a breeding project. My friend knew I had
mentioned wanting to find the ants as well. They swarmed while he was getting the mantids ready to ship. He just added the ants without knowing that it
wasn't legal. Though shipping the mantids is legal. Or are they? I've asked several USDA and Ag dept personnel about it and have gotten many different,
(and conflicting!), responses.
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antdude |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 18808 07/04/2009 5:53 PM
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Hypoponera wrote:What did the federal personnels say?
Quote of the Week: "I've been on some fairways that are as good as the greens we putted on back then. We had crab grass. I remember one
green where I putted through ants." --Sam Snead. Ant/AntDude @ The Ant Farm (Personal Web Site), Ant's
Quality Foraged Links (AQFL), and The Ant Farm and Myrmecology
Forum.
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Hypoponera |
#11 | |||
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Adult Worker Ant Posts: 273 07/04/2009 6:07 PM |
With regards to mantids, answers ranged from "the hobby is totally illegal" to "no restrictions found". I was even told that breeding and
shipping native mantids WITHIN their native ranges was not allowed. I finally got in touch with a federal inspector in Albuquerque and decided that since he
would be the one charging me that I would go with what he found. After doing a week or so of research, here is what he came up with, (paraphrased):
You may keep and ship native mantids via all shippers with no restrictions. You may keep, breed, and ship all exotic species that are captive bred in the USA already. The only restriction is that you may not import new species from any other country. No permit is needed. Keep in mind that he checked federal and New Mexico state laws and regs. I have heard from the guy who sent me the ants that New York does not allow the shipping in of ANY cockroach species. Nor is it legal to keep the walking sticks that are native to his area and found in the local park. So you must check your own state's laws and regs. |
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MrILoveTheAnts |
#12 | |||
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TAFMF Addict Posts: 3667 07/04/2009 8:28 PM |
Prenolepis imparis is a single species (as far as we know) that is native to all states of the US (though I'm not sure on Alaska and Hawaii) and southern
Canada. They are discrete foragers that are in no way invasive. And I don't see any reason to contact any authorities with it, illegal or not. I'm not
advocating that we should break the law though! If it were a different species I might be all for contacting everyone.
The USDA needs to get it's act together, or someone at least. I've tried contacted people about garden stores here in NJ selling Purple loosestrife which is highly invasive! Allowing just anyone to put this plant in their garden undermines the work of conservationists. |
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Hypoponera |
workers found! | #13 | ||
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Adult Worker Ant Posts: 273 07/07/2009 1:18 PM |
I opened up one vial and found one queen, 9 workers, and a small pile of brood ranging from egg to pupa. I decided not to try taking photos. Too much stress
already. Thanks for the information!!
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narai10 |
#14 | |||
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Minor Worker Ant Posts: 126 07/07/2009 1:35 PM |
Wow. And there you have it. Oh well, its a good thing Prenolepis imparis has a vast range in North America, so we don't need to expect the worst if those
three colonies did manage to escape.
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Kushun |
#15 | |||
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Minor Worker Ant Posts: 87 07/07/2009 8:12 PM |
o that would be bad colonies spreading and alates being able to be collected over a period of years that would be bad
 not to be mean to any one
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Add Reply
- General Discussion
- Keeping Ants
- Anting/Field Observations/Sightings
- Reference #1
- Reference #2
- Old Genus of the Weeks (GW)/Featured Genus (FG)
- Old Name That Ant (NTA)
- Archived Keeping Ants #1
- Archived Keeping Ants #2
- Archived Keeping Ants #3
- Archived Anting/Field Observations/Sightings #1
- Archived Anting/Field Observations/Sightings #2
- Archived Area #1
- Archived Area #2
- Archived Area #3
- Archived Captioned and Doctored Ant-Related Images
- Off-Topic (OT)
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