1665 replies to this topic

[Vendayn]

I saw a bunch of Solenopsis aurea/amblychila alates outside their nests yesterday evening (Irvine California). I didn't see any take off (it was windy in that spot), but their flights should be any day now. They fly in the evening, right before the sun goes down. They might have even flown yesterday, but I was a bit too early.

 

Even though its cold compared to last year, I guess ants are still wanting to fly and it might just be warm enough for some ants to do their mating flights.

[dspdrew]

How weird. It's barely been over 60 degrees in the evenings lately.

[Vendayn]

Yeah, night has been pretty cold. Day time temperatures are kinda warm though. It just drops so much at night. I think in the day time, its just warm enough for there to be some small flights (or at least enough for alates to come out).

[noebl1]

The camponotus here in Massachusetts flew 26th - 28th until the cold front came thru on the 29th.  Original link here: http://www.formicult...-20#entry34929  26th was the major flights for sure, with a handful sighted later afternoon into the evenings the rest of the days.

 

 

On a side note, watched a Lasius Niger colony moving today into tonight, and noticed it was moving alates.  Saw a male which wasn't much bigger than the worker carrying it, dragged with the rest of the important items from the old nest.  Pretty good sized colony as noticed them moving around 3pm today, and still going

Edited by noebl1, May 30 2016 - 6:03 PM.

[LC3]

Heads up Tetramorium sp.e are starting to fly in Richmond, BC, I found one queen dealate today. I'd imagine that they would also start to fly around Metro Vancouver too (If they are found in that area). 

 

They usually fly early in the morning but you can find the some queens in the afternoon.

[drtrmiller]

I saw Brachymyrmex on June 2, 2016 in the evening after thunderstorm in Georgia, US.  Temp that day was high of 90s.

 

Also Solenopsis invicta that afternoon.

Edited by drtrmiller, June 1 2016 - 8:24 PM.

[AntsTexas]

when does Camponotus sayi fly??  can't find it anywhere.....

[dspdrew]

Species: S. molesta, Temnothorax sp. [181].

Location: Trabuco Canyon, California

Date: 6-2-2016

Time: 8:00 PM

Temperature: 78 F

Humidity: 45%

Wind: Light

Rain: None

 

Species: Liometopum occidentale, Camponotus essigi, Camponotus CA02, Solenopsis xyloni, Crematogaster mutans, Lasius sp.

Location: Trabuco Canyon, California

Date: 6-2-2016

Time: 9:00 PM

Temperature: 73 F

Humidity: 55%

Wind: Light

Rain: None

 

The Temnothorax were swarming in the thousands, coating my whole windshield just as I pulled up. Thirty minutes later, the flight was over and they were nowhere to be seen, other than a few randoms that showed up on the black light after it got dark.

 

The Camponotus were the largest Camponotus males I have ever seen. They measured over 13mm in length. I also found one queen that I think was the same species. I'm pretty sure these were both the same species as the giant Camponotus that are all over that area. I have always suspected they are C. ocreatus.

 

the Crematogaster was the strange parasitic looking ones that always end up dying.

 

The Lasius was an orange parasitic Lasius. It's very strange to find them in the hills out there where it doesn't snow anywhere within 60 miles.

[Foogoo]

Species: S. invicta

Location: San Gabriel Valley, California

Date: 6-2-2016

Time: 7:00 PM

Temperature: 80 F

Humidity: 45%

Wind: Light

Rain: None

 

Species: Pogonomyrmex californicus

Location: San Gabriel Valley, California

Date: 6-2-2016

Time: ?

Temperature: 80 F

Humidity: 45%

Wind: Light

Rain: None

 

I'm assuming the Pogonomyrmex flew earlier in the day as they usually do but I caught a bunch of wanderers and shallow founding chambers (dug them out with my fingers) when I got home around 6pm. Quite a few of them just outside my house, in total caught 83. 

[LC3]

Found another Tetra queen today at around noon.

[dspdrew]

 in total caught 83. 

 

Sounds like a nightmare.

[dspdrew]

Species: S. molesta, Temnothorax sp. [181].

Location: Trabuco Canyon, California

Date: 6-3-2016

Time: 8:00 PM

Temperature: 78 F

Humidity: 45%

Wind: None

Rain: None

 

Species: Liometopum occidentale, Camponotus CA02, Solenopsis xyloni, S. amblychila, Crematogaster mutans, Pheidole sp., Lasius sp.

Location: Trabuco Canyon, California

Date: 6-3-2016

Time: 9:00 PM

Temperature: 73 F

Humidity: 55%

Wind: Light

Rain: None

 

Species: Formica moki

Location: Trabuco Canyon, California

Date: 6-3-2016

Time:

Temperature:

Humidity:

Wind: Light

Rain: None

 

Subverted and I found more of those queens I suspect are Camponotus ocreatus. I have been wanting to find some of these since I first got into this hobby.

 

Subverted got lucky and also found either Pheidole vistana (one of my other favorites) or Pheidole desertorum. They're almost impossible to tell apart.

 

He also got lucky and found a random Formica moki running around. It's gaster was very small, so I had a feeling it wouldn't survive. I think it's already dead.

[Cquintero915]

Species: S. invicta
Location: San Gabriel Valley, California
Date: 6-2-2016
Time: 7:00 PM
Temperature: 80 F
Humidity: 45%
Wind: Light
Rain: None.
 
Species: Pogonomyrmex californicus
Location: San Gabriel Valley, California
Date: 6-2-2016
Time: ?
Temperature: 80 F
Humidity: 45%
Wind: Light
Rain: None
 
I'm assuming the Pogonomyrmex flew earlier in the day as they usually do but I caught a bunch of wanderers and shallow founding chambers (dug them out with my fingers) when I got home around 6pm. Quite a few of them just outside my house, in total caught 83. 

Hello Foogoo. What areas of the San Gabriel Valley did you find these. I'm from West Covina and I've been looking for Pogonomyrmex.

[Foogoo]

 

in total caught 83. 

 
Sounds like a nightmare.

 

 135 total after finding a few more yesterday. Now let's hope they're fertile  .
 

Hello Foogoo. What areas of the San Gabriel Valley did you find these. I'm from West Covina and I've been looking for Pogonomyrmex.

San Gabriel. Just happen to conveniently have a bare patch outside my house with a few nests so just a matter of scooping them up.

[dspdrew]

 135 total after finding a few more yesterday. Now let's hope they're fertile  .

 

OMG! Did you actually make test tube setups for every one of those?    I would rather hang myself. I guess it's a good thing it's so tedious, or I would probably be drowning in queens.

[Foogoo]

OMG! Did you actually make test tube setups for every one of those?    I would rather hang myself. I guess it's a good thing it's so tedious, or I would probably be drowning in queens.

Yup  . Had to double/triple up the queens and used every single tube/nest I had. Can't predict if/when I'll next get a chance to find queens, so gotta take advantage of the times I do!

[Reacker]

Species: Tetramorium sp. (caespitum?)
Location: Boise, Idaho
Date: 6-5-2016
Time: 9:00 AM
Temperature: 75F
Humidity: unknown
Wind: None
Rain: None

[LC3]

 

OMG! Did you actually make test tube setups for every one of those?    I would rather hang myself. I guess it's a good thing it's so tedious, or I would probably be drowning in queens.

Yup  . Had to double/triple up the queens and used every single tube/nest I had. Can't predict if/when I'll next get a chance to find queens, so gotta take advantage of the times I do!

 

You deserve an award.

[Miles]

Species: Tetramorium sp. (caespitum?)
Location: Boise, Idaho
Date: 6-5-2016
Time: 9:00 AM
Temperature: 75F
Humidity: unknown
Wind: None
Rain: None

I also observed this flight from Meridian, ID.

[Crystals]

Species: Camponotus herculeanus

Location: Athabasca, AB, Canada

Date: June 6, 2016

Time: 12-6pm

Temperature: 29° C (84F)

Humidity: 45% 

Wind: 10 km/h gusting to 20

Rain: Rain two days before and the sparsest sprinkle late that evening

Had a large thunderstorm warning and saw several thunderstorms pass over harmlessly with just some thunder.

 

Only saw 4 queens the entire day.  The heat probably triggered a flight from locations deep within the forest that stay pretty cool all year long.