How to Care for a Queen Ant
Summary
TLDRIn 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
🐜 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.
🌡️ 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Nuptial Flights
💡Queen Ants
💡Colony Founding
💡Test Tube Setup
💡Claustral
💡Energy Stores
💡Larvae
💡Global Ant Nursery (G.A.N.) Program
💡Biological Safety
💡Dermatologists
💡Hibernation
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
関連動画をさらに表示
Where to Buy Queen Ants | Getting Started in Ant Keeping 101
When to Catch Queen Ants: Nuptial Flight Schedules | AntsCanada Tutorial #36
How to Collect and Store Queen Ants During Nuptial Flight Season - AntsCanada Tutorial #5
Placing Queen Ants into Test Tube Setups (Tutorial PART 2)
What Queen Ants To Look Out For Right Now (May 30th, 2018)
How To Raise An Ant Colony! | BRUMA Ants
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)