Collecting & Discerning Queens from Males/Worker Ants (Formica Nuptial Flight Season) - Tutorial #15

Summary

In this video, Mikey Bustos from Ants Canada documents his experience collecting Formica ants during their nuptial flights on a July summer day. He shares tips on identifying queens, workers, and males, and demonstrates how to safely capture them using snap cap files. Bustos highlights the importance of proper containment and the unique behaviors of these ants, emphasizing the joys of keeping Formica fusca as pets and their smart nesting habits.

Takeaways

• 🌤️ It's a July summer day, and rain has recently occurred which is a common trigger for ant nuptial flights.
• 🐜 The speaker, Mikey Bustos, is documenting the collection of Formica ants during their nuptial flights.
• 👀 He advises to keep an eye on the ground and surroundings while collecting ants to avoid accidents.
• 🗑️ Snap cap files are used for temporary containment of the ants until they are transferred to a proper setup.
• 🌬️ Invertebrate breathing is different from human breathing, and ants can survive in the files for several hours.
• 👑 Queens are larger and move differently compared to workers, making them distinguishable by their behavior.
• 🔍 The speaker catches a Formica queen and places her in his bag to prevent overheating.
• 👦 Male ants have a distinct appearance with a tiny head and differently shaped gaster, and they die after mating.
• 🏡 Formica ants, especially Formica fusca, are recommended as pets and require a nest with both dry and moist areas.
• 🌡️ A temperature gradient in the nest is beneficial for the ants to manage different purposes within their colony.
• 📍 The video was recorded in Toronto, where green spaces are well-planned, providing a habitat for various fauna including ants.
• 👋 The speaker plans to continue searching for more Formica queens in the coming days.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video script?

The speaker is Mikey Bustos from Anne's Canada.

What event is being documented in the video?

The video documents the collection of Formica ants during their nuptial flights after a rainstorm.

What type of ants are being collected in the video?

The ants being collected are Formica ants, with specific mention of Formica fusca and Formica subserviceae.

Why do ants have their nuptial flights after a rainstorm?

The script does not provide a specific reason, but it is a common behavior for many ant species to mate and disperse after rain to avoid desiccation.

What tool does Mikey use for collecting the ants?

Mikey uses snap cap vials for collecting the ants, which are convenient for temporary containment.

How does Mikey differentiate between a queen ant and a worker ant?

Mikey notes that queens are larger and move differently than workers, often in a straighter line, and have distinct physical characteristics.

What is the purpose of the male ants in the ant colony?

The purpose of male ants, as mentioned in the script, is to mate with the queen. After mating, they typically die.

What are the environmental conditions preferred by Formica fusca ants?

Formica fusca ants prefer a nest with good drainage, some dry areas, and some moist areas, creating a temperature gradient.

What is the significance of the Humber River mentioned in the script?

The Humber River is significant as it provides water to many species living by the forest edge, including the ants being collected.

What is the city where Mikey is collecting the ants?

Mikey is collecting the ants in the city of Toronto.

How does Mikey handle the ants once they are collected?

Mikey places the collected ants into his bag to keep them out of the sun and prevent them from overheating.