ethergear
@futurebird hey do you mind if I ask you for #ant keeping advice? I found three camponotus queens tonight after the first #monsoon storm. I just have them in test tubes with a bit of water behind a cotton ball right now
Jun 16 at 5:17amWeb
Show threadmyrmepropagandistJun 16

@ethergear

Lovely queens!

Since they still have wings there is a chance they are not mated. If they chew the cotton plug and seem to just want to get out that's also a sign.

The best thing for a queen at this stage is to ensure she's had a little water (you can offer her a drop right in the tube if the cotton isn't very moist)

Then put them in a quiet dark place for at least three days. Just leave her alone! If she is fertile she should lay eggs.

Show threadmyrmepropagandistJun 16

@ethergear

festinatus queens sometimes never remove their wings. I don't know much about ocreatus.

Don't worry about the wings just give them peace and quiet for multiple days. They will forget that they didn't make the dark chamber themselves and just start nesting.

Queens sometimes die for no reason. When capturing queens no wings is better but no guarantee.