I finally captured a live mated queen!

[Dominus]

Was working in the yard. Found a queen. She doesn't have her wings anymore so it's a safe bet she is mated and just looking for a starting chamber.

I've set up a starter chamber for her. Will be a couple months before she has enough workers for me to transfer the colony to a habitat. Already ordered the habitat.

Must admit capturing this queen has reignited a childhood hobby. I'm gonna create an empire!

 

[opinterph]

Is it a carpenter ant?

 

[Dominus]

Is it a carpenter ant?

Yes. Black carpenter ant. They are very common around here.

 

[cityboy-stl]

Wow. That's pretty cool. Keep us updated.

 

[unloadonme]

Yuck!

 

[Charon]

k

 

[Kahaih]

 

[Peloso]

I would have squashed the bitch.

 

[Dominus]

Wow. That's pretty cool. Keep us updated.

You know I will. If she is a viable specimen, it will take about 2 months for her to have enough workers for me to move the new colony to a habitat. In the mean time, I have to keep her sealed up in her founding chamber with a reservoir of water. If she is a viable specimen, she will start laying eggs in a couple days to a week from now.

Fun fact. During these 2 months, she will not be eating anything. She will only drink water. She has everything she needs in her body to produce about 5 offsprings. Once those offsprings are ready to start foraging for food, I will start feeding them. Once she has about 10 mature offsprings, I will then move them to a new habitat and watch them start digging tunnels and stuff.

If this goes well, I will provide plenty of pictures.

 

[unloadonme]

If this goes well, I will provide plenty of pictures.

The anticipation is killing me.

 

[Kahaih]

/\ Ants in your pants?

 

[Maklaar13]

That is fantastic. I am sure that you will have a great time.

 

[Essex Boy]

They appear to be very artistic.

 

[rareboy]

I am sure there is a reason you want carpenter ants around the house.

I am not going to inquire why.

 

[Vannie]

Are there white carpenter ants as well?

 

[Dominus]

Just checked.

GOT AN EGG!

 

[eddielee]

If it's something you enjoy, more power to you.

 

[HoodedRat]

Ant colonies are fascinating.

I'm quite looking forward to seeing your ant empire in their habitat.

Keep us posted.

 

[unloadonme]

GOT AN EGG!

Only one? What an anticlimax!

 

[Dominus]

Only one? What an anticlimax!

Woke up this morning. There are 2 now.

Fits perfectly with what's suppose to happen. It will take her 2 months to have the first 5-10 original workers. She was licking the eggs when I first opened up the drawer.