2450 replies to this topic

[PTAntFan]

I assumed Pogonomyrmex californicus would be flying tomorrow, but it looks like they already started today. I'll be running the black light in the canyon tomorrow night, as it should be about 72F around 9:00 PM. The humidity is a little low with it being Santa Ana wind conditions, but I think there's still a good chance something will be flying as long as it's not too windy. I do know that P. californicus, which fly during the day, have flown plenty of times when it was as windy as can be.

How was the canyon, Drew?

 

I noted this article this morning:  http://www.msn.com/e...ocid=spartanntp

[dspdrew]

Found tons of Liometopum occidentale. Everything else was barely flying. I think it was a little too dry and windy.

[PTAntFan]

My LO queen from last summer just rolled over dead a few weeks back.  I feel so bad for the colony when that happens.    There's just nothing to do but watch them die slowly.

[PTAntFan]

Hey Drew, what species of Pheidole have you come across that have biggest heads?  They look cool and I wanna add a colony.

[dspdrew]

Hey Drew, what species of Pheidole have you come across that have biggest heads?  They look cool and I wanna add a colony.

 

I don't know which ones have the biggest heads. I can tell you the biggest species I see are in the fallax group.

[Vendayn]

That is a trick question. No one ever finds Pheidole in California. Nope, not at all. 

 

Okay, I'm just being cynical and sarcastic I've been waiting for like 1 or  2 years for someone to say "hey Pheidole are flying at this spot" and/or also "Pheidole for sale"...and any time someone says they find Pheidole, they are in Florida (most common) or another state lol. Or if they have them for sale, they aren't ready yet or...in another state. And its usually the big ones (which is fine, they are really neat). But no one ever has the small desert tiny ones for sale. Only in Florida I've seen someone post about them finding the small Pheidole  Though no one ever has Pseudomyrmex for sale either, but I think those ones are pretty rare as I've never even seen a single worker of that genus. 

Edited by Vendayn, May 26 2017 - 10:57 AM.

[soulsynapse]

desert pheidole flew at the same time veromessor did in palm springs this year

[Vendayn]

desert pheidole flew at the same time veromessor did in palm springs this year

Ah, I was there in palm springs close to that time. I guess I missed their flights by a week or so then. I do recall people finding Veromessor around the time I went to visit my Grandparents. But, it was like a week or two after I got back. 

[soulsynapse]

They're much more uncommon than the veromessor in the area.

Edited by soulsynapse, May 26 2017 - 1:47 PM.

[soulsynapse]

I just went down a key and my pheidole is Pheidole barbata, not desertorum

[nurbs]

You will find tons of Pheidole after the desert monsoons this summer. Even on gas station pumps.

 

I personally like the larger ants, never been a fan of Pheidole. Even though they are cool looking, they are just too small. Wish they were larger.

 

Also, every colony of Pheidole I've reared has gotten to a few dozen workers, and then they just die. They just don't like me.

Edited by nurbs, May 26 2017 - 3:07 PM.

[Vendayn]

 

 

Also, every colony of Pheidole I've reared has gotten to a few dozen workers, and then they just die. They just don't like me.

That is my experience with both Camponotus (except not Camponotus modoc for some reason) and all Crematogaster. I keep them, they get 1-3 workers and then they die. They always take months and months to get workers too, even though for other people its a lot faster. Except Camponotus modoc did really good until Argentine ants invaded. Camponotus modoc was one of the easiest ants I kept, and the only Camponotus that ever did good on me lol.

[Tmhernandez77]

Quick question. I found a nearby park in Simi valley with lots of all red Pogonomyrmex californicus, but I didn't see any alates, just large workers. When can I expect them to fly? I finish student teaching in 2 weeks, I can start heading there everyday and hunt, just want to make sure I'm not too late. Thanks.

Edited by Tmhernandez77, May 28 2017 - 4:24 PM.

[soulsynapse]

the large workers *are* the queens. the species isn't polymorphic.

 

Video I took

 

Edited by soulsynapse, May 28 2017 - 5:15 PM.

[Tmhernandez77]

Sorry for the confusion, I didn't mean majors, I can just meant I saw workers.

[kudofo]

Let me know when you guys go hunting next. I want to try for some novas

[soulsynapse]

June is kinda boring for ants. Solenopsis xyloni.. californicus already flew.. 

 

July is Myrmecocystus month though, so things will get lively again around then

[dspdrew]

June is kinda boring for ants. Solenopsis xyloni.. californicus already flew.. 

 

July is Myrmecocystus month though, so things will get lively again around then

 

Yup. It's always boring and uneventful between the big Camponotus mating flights in April and the desert mating flights that start in July.

[PTAntFan]

I was in the sequoia nf this week and quite disappointed nothing was flying despite the warm days. Saw gorgeous Camponotus workers at night, huge. 😞

[kudofo]

I just don't want to miss out this year like last year