Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Arboreal Ant Spotting Thread


  • Please log in to reply
21 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted November 16 2018 - 7:16 PM

Ferox_Formicae

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,443 posts
  • LocationProsperity, South Carolina

So there's already a cryptic ant spotting thread, so I'm going to make a spotting thread for arboreal ants. I have a feeling that not many people venture up into the trees to collect ants, but for those who do, you know how many cool ant species you can see. I have seen seven species of ants nesting in trees, Pseudomyrmex pallidusPseudomyrmex ejectusCrematogaster ashmeadiLinepithema humileSolenopsis invictaCamponotus nearcticus, and Colobopsis obliqua. As some of you may know, I am currently trying to collect a colony of Colobopsis obliqua. I have found three satellite nests so far, but I have not seen the main nest with the queen yet. It's a very large colony with hundreds and hundreds of members. What arboreal ant species do you guys find in your area?


  • DaveJay likes this

Currently Keeping:

 

Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

All Strumigenys Journal

Shop

 

YouTube

Twitter


#2 Offline Rulkan - Posted November 16 2018 - 11:14 PM

Rulkan

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 18 posts
  • LocationSouth Florida

I've been able to find Pseudomyrmex gracilis, Crematogaster, and a couple Odontomachus sp. that have made a nest in the palm trees in my front yard in South Florida.


Edited by Rulkan, November 16 2018 - 11:15 PM.


#3 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted November 16 2018 - 11:18 PM

Ferox_Formicae

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,443 posts
  • LocationProsperity, South Carolina

I've been able to find Pseudomyrmex gracilis, Crematogaster, and a couple Odontomachus sp. that have made a nest in the palm trees in my front yard in South Florida.

Odontomachus? I had no idea they were arboreal, that's pretty neat. I'll have to be on he lookout for them when I go to the Florida Keys over the summer, along with Cephalotes varians.


Currently Keeping:

 

Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

All Strumigenys Journal

Shop

 

YouTube

Twitter


#4 Offline Leo - Posted November 17 2018 - 12:37 AM

Leo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,508 posts
  • LocationHong Kong

Outside my grandma's house, there is a small tree, about 2-3 m in height, there is a small hole in the trunk and inside lives a colony of colobopsis. Also loads of crematogaster live at school. I have a colony of oecophylla smaragdina at home. 1 queen 40 workers or so. Loads of those at grandma's home and also school. occasional tetraponera and my personal favorite, paratopula bauhinia, I think I am the only one so far who has seen a queen of that species! Relatively new, discovered 3 years ago. The HK university only has worker specimens! I have a preserved queen currently.



#5 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted November 17 2018 - 8:39 AM

Ferox_Formicae

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,443 posts
  • LocationProsperity, South Carolina

Outside my grandma's house, there is a small tree, about 2-3 m in height, there is a small hole in the trunk and inside lives a colony of colobopsis. Also loads of crematogaster live at school. I have a colony of oecophylla smaragdina at home. 1 queen 40 workers or so. Loads of those at grandma's home and also school. occasional tetraponera and my personal favorite, paratopula bauhinia, I think I am the only one so far who has seen a queen of that species! Relatively new, discovered 3 years ago. The HK university only has worker specimens! I have a preserved queen currently.

 Oh wow! That's really neat! I would suggest that you get some good pictures of her from the anterior, dorsal, and profile and post them. Use a macro lens if you have one.


Currently Keeping:

 

Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

All Strumigenys Journal

Shop

 

YouTube

Twitter


#6 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted November 22 2018 - 3:03 PM

Ferox_Formicae

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,443 posts
  • LocationProsperity, South Carolina

I collected a colony of Temnothorax curvispinosus from within a hollow twig of a Liquidambar styraciflua tree. I knew they were around here as I have seen them flying in the spring, but I didn't know where. I know now!


Currently Keeping:

 

Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

All Strumigenys Journal

Shop

 

YouTube

Twitter


#7 Offline Leo - Posted November 22 2018 - 3:46 PM

Leo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,508 posts
  • LocationHong Kong

saw gesomyrmex and diblicondyla



#8 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted November 27 2018 - 6:57 AM

Ferox_Formicae

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,443 posts
  • LocationProsperity, South Carolina

I have forgotten to update this, but I have seen two Brachymyrmex patagonicus colonies, a medium sized colony of Colobopsis impressa, with a queen this time unlike with the Colobopsis obliqua colonies, and yesterday I found a small portion of a large colony of Camponotus snellingi in a branch that had fallen out of pine tree. It was the first time I had seen their majors. It was of course a queenless portion sadly.


Currently Keeping:

 

Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

All Strumigenys Journal

Shop

 

YouTube

Twitter


#9 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted November 28 2018 - 5:00 PM

Ferox_Formicae

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,443 posts
  • LocationProsperity, South Carolina

I found another colony of Colobopsis obliqua inside of a Coronus florida branch, but it wasn't a hollow twig, it was a small branch full of burrows from beetles. All of the nests I've seen were most likely made by them, or maybe Colobopsis mississippiensis as nearly all of the nests  inside of the twigs of Fraxinus americana, the only plant they are known to nest in. The other nest was inside of a hollow Quercus nigra branch, probably hollowed out by Pseudomyrmex ejectus as those are the ants that dominate that tree. Every single one of these nests have been satellite nests, and this one was sadly no exception. Maybe next time.


Currently Keeping:

 

Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

All Strumigenys Journal

Shop

 

YouTube

Twitter


#10 Offline Ferox_Formicae - Posted November 29 2018 - 5:31 PM

Ferox_Formicae

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,443 posts
  • LocationProsperity, South Carolina

Found the main nest! The queen is looking nice and promising and I have high hopes for them.


Currently Keeping:

 

Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipesStrumigenys brevisetosaStrumigenys clypeataStrumigenys louisianaeStrumigenys membraniferaStrumigenys reflexaStrumigenys rostrata

 

All Strumigenys Journal

Shop

 

YouTube

Twitter


#11 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted June 19 2019 - 8:39 AM

TennesseeAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,920 posts
  • LocationNashville, Tennessee
Time to revive this! last night there was a huge flight of Colobopsis and Pheidole! I got 3 Pheidole queens, (bicarinata and tysoni) 2 Colobopsis obliqua queens, and 1 Colobopsis impressa queen! There should be some more of these flying tonight.

#12 Offline VoidElecent - Posted June 19 2019 - 10:04 AM

VoidElecent

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,339 posts
  • LocationPhiladelphia, PA.

I would add Temnothorax



#13 Offline ponerinecat - Posted October 12 2019 - 1:15 PM

ponerinecat

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,650 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

I found pseudomyrmex apache



#14 Offline ponerinecat - Posted October 12 2019 - 5:35 PM

ponerinecat

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,650 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

RSCN9986.JPG?width=300&height=225


  • TennesseeAnts likes this

#15 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted January 7 2020 - 1:29 PM

TennesseeAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,920 posts
  • LocationNashville, Tennessee
I found some Crematogaster lineolata queens last week. Today I found two colonies of Temnothorax. One Temnothorax curvispinosus and one Temnothorax ambiguus.

#16 Offline ponerinecat - Posted January 7 2020 - 4:38 PM

ponerinecat

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,650 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Do temnothorax count? or only some species?



#17 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted January 7 2020 - 5:12 PM

TennesseeAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,920 posts
  • LocationNashville, Tennessee
Most I've seen have been arboreal. So yeah.

#18 Offline ponerinecat - Posted January 7 2020 - 5:21 PM

ponerinecat

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,650 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Huh, I always see them on the ground or in leaf litter.



#19 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted January 7 2020 - 6:56 PM

TennesseeAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,920 posts
  • LocationNashville, Tennessee
Huh. Weird. Maybe what your are seeing are Leptothorax?

#20 Offline ponerinecat - Posted January 7 2020 - 7:01 PM

ponerinecat

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,650 posts
  • LocationCalifornia

Nope. I've seen leptothorax before, they like fallen logs.


  • TennesseeAnts likes this




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users