2450 replies to this topic

[YsTheAnt]

Seeing some light rain on the radar today. Any chance of desert flights?

[Zeiss]

Seeing some light rain on the radar today. Any chance of desert flights?

I don't think light rain will cut it.

[NickAnter]

Well, maybe for Camponotus
fragilis.

[PTAntFan]

Where did you see the rain? And does anybody have any suggestions for my drive to Vegas tomorrow? Time of day or places to check out?

[TheAntGuy]

there's a big ol red spot of rain on the radar just south of JT, near cathedral city, might head out tomorrow and try for fraggles and pots

[dspdrew]

Looks like we actually got some monsoon storms out near Palm Desert yesterday.

 

You can see the rainfall totals here.

 

 

 

Since the underlying "map" (it's really just a crappy satelite image) is so horrible, here is a Google Maps image of the same exact area.

 

 

 

The nice thing is, the bulk of the rain all fell along Hwy 74, and this spot has lots of places where you can park and look around; I know the area well. it's also higher in elevation, so it should not be as hot as some of the other desert areas today. If anything is going to fly, this is the most likely spot.

[miwu]

Looks like we actually got some monsoon storms out near Palm Desert yesterday.

You can see the rainfall totals here.




Since the underlying "map" (it's really just a crappy satelite image) is so horrible, here is a Google Maps image of the same exact area.




The nice thing is, the bulk of the rain all fell along Hwy 74, and this spot has lots of places where you can park and look around; I know the area well. it's also higher in elevation, so it should not be as hot as some of the other desert areas today. If anything is going to fly, this is the most likely spot.

I was there last night. Found two Camponotus queens and one Pogonomyrmex. Seems like it wasn’t enough rain (soaked about 4-5 inches) but Myrmecocystus nests were active. Or I could’ve just gone too early and that they’re flying today.

[YsTheAnt]

What kind of Camponotus did you find?

[dspdrew]

I was there last night. Found two Camponotus queens and one Pogonomyrmex. Seems like it wasn’t enough rain (soaked about 4-5 inches) but Myrmecocystus nests were active. Or I could’ve just gone too early and that they’re flying today.

 

Wow you went there just hours after it rained. I find that most ants don't fly immediately after rain except some small species. Also some ants fly in the morning, so no matter what, they aren't going to fly until the next morning. What Camponotus species and what Pogonomyrmex species did you find?

[miwu]

What kind of Camponotus did you find?

I think they’re Camponotus semitestaceus and the other is Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus but I’m unsure. Never caught these two species before so I’ll probably be posting some ID requests soon.

[dspdrew]

 

What kind of Camponotus did you find?

I think they’re Camponotus semitestaceus and the other is Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus but I’m unsure. Never caught these two species before so I’ll probably be posting some ID requests soon.

 

 

Well that is one of the only places where P. tenuispinus are found. The spot where I find them most, only got about .5 inches or so according to the map, so I wasn't really expecting them to fly. They also usually fly much later in the summer. P. rugosus are really what I would expect to fly, but they fly late morning, so it probably wouldn't happen until today (interestinly, that's the same for P. tenuispinus). As for C. semitestaceus, around there, I think they usually fly in very early spring (also late morning), so that would be interesting if they flew now. Who knows... it's been so cold this year, that the flights have been a little strange.

[nurbs]

 

 

What kind of Camponotus did you find?

I think they’re Camponotus semitestaceus and the other is Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus but I’m unsure. Never caught these two species before so I’ll probably be posting some ID requests soon.

 

 

Well that is one of the only places where P. tenuispinus are found. The spot where I find them most, only got about .5 inches or so according to the map, so I wasn't really expecting them to fly. They also usually fly much later in the summer. P. rugosus are really what I would expect to fly, but they fly late morning, so it probably wouldn't happen until today (interestinly, that's the same for P. tenuispinus). As for C. semitestaceus, around there, I think they usually fly in very early spring (also late morning), so that would be interesting if they flew now. Who knows... it's been so cold this year, that the flights have been a little strange.

 

 

Curious about this Camponotus. The only species that flies this late in the season are fragilis, and AFAIK there are no fragilis in that area. Could be wrong.

[dspdrew]

 

 

 

What kind of Camponotus did you find?

I think they’re Camponotus semitestaceus and the other is Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus but I’m unsure. Never caught these two species before so I’ll probably be posting some ID requests soon.

 

 

Well that is one of the only places where P. tenuispinus are found. The spot where I find them most, only got about .5 inches or so according to the map, so I wasn't really expecting them to fly. They also usually fly much later in the summer. P. rugosus are really what I would expect to fly, but they fly late morning, so it probably wouldn't happen until today (interestinly, that's the same for P. tenuispinus). As for C. semitestaceus, around there, I think they usually fly in very early spring (also late morning), so that would be interesting if they flew now. Who knows... it's been so cold this year, that the flights have been a little strange.

 

 

Curious about this Camponotus. The only species that flies this late in the season are fragilis, and AFAIK there are no fragilis in that area. Could be wrong.

 

 

Well... don't forget about the C. semitestaceus in Lucerne Valley that flew later in the year than this. I just know that I actually witnessed them flying around 11:00 AM in Pinyon Pines one year, so that is when I figure they normally fly there.

[miwu]

What kind of Camponotus did you find?

I think they’re Camponotus semitestaceus and the other is Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus but I’m unsure. Never caught these two species before so I’ll probably be posting some ID requests soon.

Well that is one of the only places where P. tenuispinus are found. The spot where I find them most, only got about .5 inches or so according to the map, so I wasn't really expecting them to fly. They also usually fly much later in the summer. P. rugosus are really what I would expect to fly, but they fly late morning, so it probably wouldn't happen until today (interestinly, that's the same for P. tenuispinus). As for C. semitestaceus, around there, I think they usually fly in very early spring, so that would be interesting if they flew now. Who knows... it's been so cold this year, that the flights have been a little strange.

Are there other larger Camponotus species out there that look like semitestaceus? I got there pretty late around 12am and only found two wandering around so I was guessing the rest had already found hiding spots. Yes, I was expecting to see Pogonomyrmex rugosus and Myrmecocystus navajo. I probably went too early as today is not the best time for me to go; they looked prime to fly. I’ll have to see if I can try again tonight. Do you think the rain was enough? The ground soaked about 4-5 inches.

[nurbs]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curious about this Camponotus. The only species that flies this late in the season are fragilis, and AFAIK there are no fragilis in that area. Could be wrong.

 

 

Well... don't forget about the C. semitestaceus in Lucerne Valley that flew later in the year than this.

 

 

That was so odd. They flew in late Summer early Fall? And then didn't lay eggs til Spring of next year. Still have mine, lots of majors now. How are yours doing Drew? 

 

Miwu, does the queen look like that?

 

[dspdrew]

 

 

 

What kind of Camponotus did you find?

I think they’re Camponotus semitestaceus and the other is Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus but I’m unsure. Never caught these two species before so I’ll probably be posting some ID requests soon.

Well that is one of the only places where P. tenuispinus are found. The spot where I find them most, only got about .5 inches or so according to the map, so I wasn't really expecting them to fly. They also usually fly much later in the summer. P. rugosus are really what I would expect to fly, but they fly late morning, so it probably wouldn't happen until today (interestinly, that's the same for P. tenuispinus). As for C. semitestaceus, around there, I think they usually fly in very early spring, so that would be interesting if they flew now. Who knows... it's been so cold this year, that the flights have been a little strange.

Are there other larger Camponotus species out there that look like semitestaceus? I got there pretty late around 12am and only found two wandering around so I was guessing the rest had already found hiding spots. Yes, I was expecting to see Pogonomyrmex rugosus and Myrmecocystus navajo. I probably went too early as today is not the best time for me to go; they looked prime to fly. I’ll have to see if I can try again tonight. Do you think the rain was enough? The ground soaked about 4-5 inches.

 

 

Are those Camponotus yellow or light brown? If so, they're probably C. fragilis. That is exactly when you would probably find them. And yes, M. navajo is all over that area, and another species I would expect to find. They usually fly in the evening, so it's possible they might wait until tonight, if it was too wet yesterday.

[dspdrew]

Still have mine, lots of majors now. How are yours doing Drew? 

 
IDK, how are those Acromyrmex doing I traded you?

[miwu]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curious about this Camponotus. The only species that flies this late in the season are fragilis, and AFAIK there are no fragilis in that area. Could be wrong.

 

 

Well... don't forget about the C. semitestaceus in Lucerne Valley that flew later in the year than this.

 

 

That was so odd. They flew in late Summer early Fall? And then didn't lay eggs til Spring of next year. Still have mine, lots of majors now. How are yours doing Drew? 

 

Miwu, does the queen look like that?

 

 

 

I don't think they're fragilis. Here are two quick shots.

 

[nurbs]

 

 

 

I don't think they're fragilis. Here are two quick shots.

 

 

 

 

Nice, we can't get a 100% ID unless you look at it closely, but pretty sure this is semitestaceus.

[nurbs]

P. subnitidus flew in the San Gabriel mountain range up hwy 39 last night. These gals are true polygynous. Have a 6 queen colony of these on their third year. KBant has a colony from me as well. They should still be around and foraging for the next few days.

 

https://www.instagra.../p/Bz6JsPiggaS/