How to Care for a Queen Ant

Summary

In this informative video, the host provides a comprehensive guide for new ant enthusiasts, especially in North America and Europe, on how to care for newly captured queen ants. The tutorial covers the importance of maintaining a warm, undisturbed environment for the queens, the process of nuptial flights, and the founding of colonies. It also touches on feeding guidelines, the benefits of warmth for the founding process, and the unique behaviors of certain species like the Lacey's neo Niger. Additionally, the video promotes the Global Ant Nursery program, encouraging the adoption of local ant species for a safe and sustainable hobby.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The video is aimed at ant enthusiasts in North America and Europe who are currently experiencing nuptial flights and are catching their own ant queens.
• 📹 The video is a recap tutorial for newcomers on how to take care of newly captured ant queens, especially for those who are doing it for the first time.
• 🐜 The presenter has over 4,000 subscribers and is part of the AntsCanada community, which focuses on ant keeping and education.
• 🔎 Queens can be captured even with their wings on, as they often break them off in the test tube after mating.
• 🏠 It's important to keep the queens in a warm environment, avoiding air-conditioned rooms, to facilitate the founding process.
• 👀 Queens should be kept in the dark and undisturbed to prevent them from eating their eggs, especially during the sensitive founding process.
• 🍯 Feeding queens is not necessary during the claustral founding process as they have energy reserves; however, a small amount of honey or a cricket leg can be offered if needed.
• 🌡 Keeping the queens warm can speed up the founding process, but care should be taken to avoid overheating them.
• 🕰 Most species take about one to two weeks to start laying eggs after being captured, depending on the species and conditions.
• 🌳 The presenter mentions the unique case of Lasius neoniger ants, which hibernate after being caught and start laying eggs the following year.
• 🌱 AntsCanada has relaunched their Global Ant Nursery (GAAN) program to promote keeping local ants and has a list of 'GAAN farmers' who sell ants within their regions to support local biodiversity.
• 📦 AntsCanada also offers a new form of ant habitat called 'AntsCanada Habitat Nest 3D', which combines a nest and an outworld in one unit.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is about how to take care of newly captured queen ants, particularly for those who are experiencing nuptial flights and are catching their own queens for the first time.

Why did the video creator make this video?

The video creator made this video to provide a recap and consolidate information on how to take care of queen ants, especially for new subscribers and those who have questions about the process of founding a colony.

What should be done if a queen ant escapes from the test tube setup?

If a queen ant escapes from the test tube setup, it is important to hope that she doesn't start calling for the rest of the colony. The creator suggests using extra cotton to prevent escapes, especially if the ants are crafty.

What is the standard test tube setup for captured queen ants?

The standard test tube setup involves capturing the queen ants and keeping them in a warm environment, away from air-conditioning, and ensuring they are not exposed to direct sunlight.

Why should queen ants be kept in the dark and undisturbed?

Queen ants should be kept in the dark and undisturbed to prevent them from eating their eggs, which can happen with sensitive queens that do not like to be disturbed during the founding process. It also helps in using light as a deterrent when moving them later.

Do queen ants need to be fed during the founding process if they are fully claustral?

No, fully claustral queen ants do not need to be fed during the founding process. They survive off the energy stores in their bodies, which were used to power their wings, and nourish their young as the eggs turn into larvae.

What can be done to provide additional energy to queen ants if needed?

If queen ants appear to need additional energy, a tiny drop of honey can be added using a toothpick, or a cricket leg can be provided, but it's not necessary as nature has equipped them to raise their colony without additional supplements.

How does temperature affect the founding process of an ant colony?

The warmer the environment, the faster the founding process happens, with quicker development of the first generation of ants. However, it's important not to overheat them, as this can be harmful.

What is the typical time frame for queen ants to start laying eggs after being captured?

For most species, it usually takes around seven to fourteen days for queen ants to start laying eggs after being captured, depending on the species.

What is the 'global and nursery program' mentioned in the video?

The 'global and nursery program' is a program that promotes keeping local ants by offering ants for adoption through selected 'gann farmers' who sell ants native to the buyer's area, ensuring biological safety.

How can someone join the 'ants Canada' team as a 'global and nursery farmer'?

To join the 'ants Canada' team as a 'global and nursery farmer', one should contact the team through the provided contact information on the 'ants Canada' website.

Outlines

00:00

🐜 Introduction to Queen Ant Care for Beginners

In this first paragraph, the speaker, presumably a person named Canada, welcomes viewers to their channel dedicated to ants. They address the audience, particularly those in North America and Europe, who are currently experiencing nuptial flights and are catching queen ants, possibly for the first time. The speaker acknowledges the influx of questions about caring for these queens and the process of establishing a new colony. The video aims to be a comprehensive guide, recapping previous tutorials and consolidating essential information for new viewers. The speaker also shares their excitement about the channel's growing subscriber base and introduces a live demonstration involving captured solenopsis gemina queen ants, highlighting the challenges of keeping them in a test tube setup without escape.

05:01

🌡️ Maintaining Optimal Conditions for Queen Ants

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of caring for queen ants during the initial stages of colony founding. The speaker advises viewers to keep the queens in a warm environment, especially those in temperate regions, to avoid air-conditioned rooms. They share personal experiences from living in Canada, where they used to insulate a room to maintain warmth for the ants. The importance of avoiding direct sunlight to prevent overheating is emphasized, as is the recommendation to keep the queens in the dark and undisturbed to prevent them from eating their eggs, a behavior observed in more sensitive queens. The speaker also touches on the topic of feeding the queens, explaining that fully claustral species do not require feeding during the initial stages as they rely on their internal energy reserves. Additional feeding can be considered later if the queen appears to be losing energy. The paragraph concludes with insights on the impact of temperature on the speed of the founding process and mentions the unique behavior of certain ant species, like Lasius neoniger, which do not lay eggs in the year they are caught but hibernate and start a colony the following year.

Keywords

💡Nuptial Flights

Nuptial flights are the mating events where winged ants, typically queens and males, take to the air to mate. In the script, the narrator mentions that many people in North America and Europe are experiencing these flights and catching their own queens, which is a crucial part of the video's theme about taking care of queen ants.

💡Queen Ants

Queen ants are the reproductive females in an ant colony. The video script focuses on how to take care of these ants, especially for those who are new to the hobby. The queen's role is central to the video's content, as she is responsible for founding and expanding the colony.

💡Colony Founding

Colony founding is the process by which a queen ant establishes a new colony. The script discusses how to assist queen ants in this process, including keeping them in a warm environment and providing them with a dark, undisturbed space to lay eggs and start their colonies.

💡Test Tube Setup

A test tube setup is a method used to house newly captured queen ants. In the script, the narrator describes the standard test tube setup and the importance of using extra cotton to prevent escapes, which is a practical aspect of caring for queen ants.

💡Claustral

Claustral refers to the behavior of some queen ants that seal themselves off during the colony founding process. The script mentions that for fully claustral queens, no feeding is necessary during this stage, as they rely on their energy reserves to sustain themselves and their offspring.

💡Energy Stores

Energy stores in ants refer to the reserves of nutrients and energy that the queen has, which she uses to sustain herself and her young during the early stages of colony founding. The script explains that these stores come from the conversion of the queen's flight muscles after she loses her wings.

💡Larvae

Larvae are the immature stage of an ant's life cycle. The script mentions that the queen ant nourishes her young with the energy from her stores once the eggs develop into larvae, highlighting the queen's role in the early development of the colony.

💡Global Ant Nursery (G.A.N.) Program

The G.A.N. Program is an initiative mentioned in the script that promotes keeping local ants by offering them for adoption through selected local sellers known as 'G.A.N. farmers'. This program is part of the video's message about the importance of biological safety and supporting local ecosystems.

💡Biological Safety

Biological safety refers to the practice of preventing the introduction of non-native or exotic species into an area, which can have negative impacts on local ecosystems. The script emphasizes the importance of keeping local ants instead of exotic ones to maintain biological safety.

💡Dermatologists

Dermatologists are medical professionals specializing in skin conditions. In the script, they are mentioned as supporting the idea of promoting the keeping of local ants over exotic ones, indicating a broader scientific consensus on the importance of biological safety.

💡Hibernation

Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals during winter. The script refers to a specific species, Lasius neoniger, which does not lay eggs in the year they are caught but hibernates and starts laying eggs the following year, showing the varied behaviors of different ant species.

Highlights

Introduction to the video about taking care of ant queens, especially for newcomers.

Ant queens are experiencing nuptial flights in North America and Europe, and viewers are catching their own queens.

Recap on how to take care of queens and colony founding.

Over 4,000 subscribers on the channel, a milestone to celebrate.

Captured solenopsis Gemma nada queens in a test tube setup.

Queens can be captured even with wings, but wingless queens are more likely to be mated.

Mating process involves queens flying and males following their pheromones.

Queens look for places to found colonies after mating.

Keeping queens warm is crucial, especially in tropical regions.

Avoid placing test tubes with queens in direct sunlight to prevent overheating.

Keeping queens in the dark and undisturbed aids in the founding process.

Queens do not need to be fed during the claustral founding process.

Additional feeding can be done if queens appear to be struggling, but it's not necessary.

Warmer temperatures can speed up the founding process.

Avoid overheating queens by not placing them directly on heating cables.

Most species take about seven to fourteen days to start laying eggs.

Lacey's neo Niger ants hibernate and start laying eggs the following year.

Introduction of the Ants Canada Habitat Nest 3D, a new form aquarium.

Relaunch of the Global Ant Nursery (GANN) program to promote local ant keeping.

Invitation for viewers to join the Ants Canada team as global ant nursery farmers.

Encouragement for viewers to continue their ant keeping efforts and good luck for the season.

Transcripts

sup guys and Canada here welcome to the

ant's Canada and Channel I just wanted

to create this video because I know a

lot of you especially in North America

and in Europe are experiencing some

amazing and nuptial flights now and

you're catching your own Queens and I

know a lot of you as well are writing in

saying it's your first time and you got

a whole bunch of awesome questions about

how to take care of your Queens what you

can do to speed up the process of them

finding founding a colony and all of

that and so this video it's kind of

going to be a recap of how to take care

of your Queens you know I've got several

tutorials on this channel on taking care

of Queens at the primary stages of

colony founding but I wanted to create

this video to just kind of recap and put

all that info in one video for all of

you newcomers and then new least new

subscribers to the N scale and channel

um we've got over 4,000 subscribers now

this is totally awesome really really

cool so anyways welcome all of you guys

here in this basket I've got some newly

captured solenopsis Gemma nada Queens

uh-oh where is she

okay well this Queen escaped that's not

good oh no she got out that's not good

let's hope she doesn't have calling me

these Queen's here in Philippines are

pretty devious they managed to escape

test tube setups in that case if you're

in the tropics and your ants are extra

crafty you've got MacGyver ants be sure

to use extra cotton so okay here is the

standard test tube setup right um when

you capture your Queens remember you can

still capture them even though they have

their wings on however you can't dig up

a colony and catch the Queen's catch the

elites because they're likely not mated

what happens is these Queen's flying the

air and the males follow them

follow their pheromones and they mate in

the air and on the ground etc and after

they made the male's die and then the

females look for places to found their

colonies but sometimes the females keep

their wings on so you want to capture

Queens that you find outside even though

they have their wings on usually they'll

break them off in the test tube this

Queen here still has her wings got

beautiful solenopsis gem another queen

there now uh so what I've got is I've

got a bunch of them in this little

basket here and I keep them warm

I don't place them in a room with

air-conditioning especially because

these are tropical ends but for those of

you in temperate regions if you keep

them in a room that's not

air-conditioned that would be great a

garage or something like that and what I

used to do when I lived in Canada was I

used to a block like with tape and paper

on the vents that you know where the

cold air for air-conditioning came from

so that the entire room was warm and I

kept all my ants in that one room so you

guys can try that of course you don't

want to keep your test tubes with the

Queen's inside them in direct sunlight

you'll cook them for sure they will die

now people are like ok can i peek at

them do they have to be in the light

that they have to be well what I

recommend is that you keep your Queens

in the dark and you don't disturb them

and here's why it's done that when the

colony is you know a substantial size if

they learn to like the dark then you can

easily use light as a deterrent when

moving them from a test tube to a nest

or from a nest to another nest so you

want to keep them nice and in the dark

and you want to keep them undisturbed uh

some queens usually aren't so finicky

about you know picking up the test tube

and you looking at them but um the more

undisturbed she is the more unlikely she

is to eat her eggs which can happen

especially with the more sensitive

Queens that you know really don't like

to be disturbed during the founding

process I recommend that people keep

them in the claws

it somewhere hidden or just away and

just forget about them you know what I

mean do your best to keep them

undisturbed people are asking me well do

you have to feed them at this stage well

if they are fully claustral and meaning

if they're ants that during this funding

process the Queen's seal themselves off

from the world and they you know raise

their colony no you don't need to feed

them at all you can just leave them and

they survive off the energy stores in

their messes Ouma in the thorax which

used to house the muscles that powered

their wings and all of that is converted

to energy which they use to sustain

themselves and to nourish their young

when the when the eggs turn into larvae

so you don't need to feed them some

people like to give them a little bit of

energy after a little while you know

when they start to look a little scheme

when their abdomens start to look

smaller you can add a little tiny drop

of honey using a toothpick if you like

some people like to add a cricket leg

and all of that but nature has given

them all the tools to raise their colony

on their own without any additional

supplements so you could just totally

leave them alone um other things to keep

in mind is that the warmer you keep them

the faster the founding process happens

the quicker the Nana ticks

which are the first generation of ants

the faster they come when they're kept

warm but you don't want to keep them hot

you don't want to place this on a

heating cable and if you do you just

place the heating cable right there you

don't want to place it at all anywhere

near the Queen because you can

definitely cook her and you don't want

that

it usually takes most species and I'm

thinking of the standard um species in

North America usually takes them around

seven to seven days to two weeks so one

or two weeks before they start to lay

eggs depending on the species um you

know Lacey's neo Niger which are flying

everywhere in about a month around the

beginning of September there called the

labor day end because on Labor Day in

and around Labor Day they're always

flying further nuptial flight they don't

lay eggs at all

in the year that they're caught they

actually hibernate and then the next

year they start laying and they start

filming a colony so I guess it depends

when um you catch the Queen's um and so

that's it I hope this was a helpful

tutorial guys be sure to check out and

Canada comm we have a new form aquarium

available it's our aunts Canada habitat

nest 3d which you saw in one of our

videos involving moving a mature colony

into one of those habitat nests and

their 3d they're basically a 2 in 1

they're a nest and a an out world all in

one unit so be sure to check that out at

our store and also for those of you who

are looking for Queens and you're having

troubles finding your own dl8 we have

relaunched our gann program our global

and nursery program that we launched

maybe three years ago I mean we had to

close it because we kind of didn't have

the manpower to control it because it

was just this one big massive market and

now we have the manpower and the

mechanics to relaunch the again program

and it's basically to promote keeping

local ants because ants Canada is not

for the keeping of exotic ants and hence

not from your area because it's

biologically unsafe as supported by

dermatologists around the world and

basically what we do is we offer ants

for adoption and we have selected

recruits

gann farmers as we call them that sell

ants to people in their area so if you

go to our site and click on the tab that

says queen ants for sale and you look

there you should be able to find a list

of gand farmers all over the world and

if you find one in your city or in your

area and you know unique queen ants be

sure to contact us and we can hook you

up with them and they'll be totally glad

to sell you a colony of theirs and their

local hands caught from your area so

that's

kind of a cool thing and for those of

you who want to join the aunt Canada

team and become one of our official

global and nursery farmers be sure to

contact us as well it's contact - us at

and Canada come and join the ants Canada

family yes that's it guys thanks so much

for the support we really appreciate

everything and good luck this year on

your ante for those of you who haven't

found DLH yet in Europe and North

America don't worry you still have time

we still have about two or

two-and-a-half three months before it's

kind of too late I guess that's it guys

happy hunting and scan the signing out

bye

you