2110 replies to this topic

[Batspiderfish]

That could be Lasius flavus or Lasius nearcticus, a possible host for your colony. However, these could also be a social parasite colony. Try checking for female alates. If it is L. flavus or L. nearcticus, the female alates will be brownish yellow, and with a big gaster. If a social parasite,it  could be red, or grayish brown. They will have small gasters and big heads.

 

There won't be any alates at this time of the year except for Lasius interjectus.

[Nathant2131]

 

That could be Lasius flavus or Lasius nearcticus, a possible host for your colony. However, these could also be a social parasite colony. Try checking for female alates. If it is L. flavus or L. nearcticus, the female alates will be brownish yellow, and with a big gaster. If a social parasite,it  could be red, or grayish brown. They will have small gasters and big heads.

 

There won't be any alates at this time of the year except for Lasius interjectus.

 

True, true.

[Myrmidon]

Who else is excited for the good weather coming up next weekend? Hopefully we get lucky! Thursday will be around mid 70's right after some good rainfall

[Nathant2131]

Who else is excited for the good weather coming up next weekend? Hopefully we get lucky! Thursday will be around mid 70's right after some good rainfall

I'm not sure about P. imparis flying as it appears they are inactive; I haven't seen a single worker since the flight I witnessed. We will almost for sure see some Lasius Parasite queens that flew last year, seeking host colonies.

I think it seems a tad bit early for Camponotus to fly. You never know though!

[noebl1]

It is a bit early, but Camponotus Myrmentoma last year flew a couple weeks before the larger Camponotus, so could fly soon. However they really prefer high 70s/80s for flights. I think Cindy saw some Camponotus Myrmentoma flying last weekend with it in the 80s, so possible more flights in other areas later this week.  Regardless within a few weeks the Camponotus flights will start and another in rush of ID requests as impossible to miss as such larger numbers (the Myrmentoma flew 5/12 last year when it hit 80s.)  

 

Checked on my ants, and P. imparis are starting to lay, and all the Lasius neoniger in the first bin I checked all had egg piles or larvae.  Didn't get a chance to check the 2nd bin of them.

 

My Lasius umbratus I think started eggs laying as well with her pair of L. alienus workers.  I caught them feeding her last night, so she's at least some success infiltrating and replacing the queen.

 

Noticed a new Tetramorium colony this week as well along our driveway busily digging out from the rains. My toddler sat next to me and watched them for awhile which was cool.  He doesn't talk much, but he clearly says "ants" and points to look at the Tetramorium and L. umbratus he knows about.

Edited by noebl1, April 22 2017 - 1:14 PM.

[RhodyAnts]

Just checked today. About half of my queens have obvious eggs! Some of the others look like maybe the burried the egg in the cotton.

[Nathant2131]

Checking yesterday, 4 of my 7 remaining queens have 4-9 eggs. It took 6-10 days for them.

[Myrmidon]

Yeah, I walked around today a bit and mostly just saw foragers and some Tetramorium wars. I also located a mature Camponotus noveboracensis colony in a tree stump right next to my driveway. I saw male and female alates walking outside from one chamber and into another. Which is amazing because that's my most sought after ant at the moment! They also fly in May usually, right? 

 

All of my P. imparis queens are laying at this point, which is good. I'm a bit worried about an injured queen but she is laying more than any of the others! Maybe she realizes she will need the extra help.

[Nathant2131]

I was in Methuen today. High of about 65, and the place I was at was dominated by Lasius alienus (?) despite it being a very open area, only a sparse amount of forest, which I found strange. They look considerably darker than The usual Lasius neoniger I always see, so I only assumed the species, but I am fairly confident that's them. Edit: Prob just L. neoniger.

Also saw a groggy P. imparis mound with some lazy workers lingering on it, but no foraging it seems.

Also saw Formica cf. pallidefulva, Camponotus Pennsylvanicus, Tetramorium Foraging.

Edited by Nathant2131, June 11 2017 - 4:45 AM.

[Nathant2131]

Just found Prenolepis imparis heavily foraging in my yard. Strange how they suddenly stopped for a while.

[noebl1]

Just found Prenolepis imparis heavily foraging in my yard. Strange how they suddenly stopped for a while.

 

I figured it's a bit too early for estivation as not sure how much time they've been able to forage in the last few weeks to last the whole summer.  I'd be curious to see when they go into full estivation if it's in the July/Aug/Sept time frame, or longer/shorter.  In that PDF, it made it sound like up north they really only have a short estivation of only a couple months.

[Nathant2131]

I have FINALLY located the nest entrance of one of the P. imparis nests in my yard. I'm going to key/map the colonies in my yard for fun, and update it from time to time! 

[Nathant2131]

 

Just found Prenolepis imparis heavily foraging in my yard. Strange how they suddenly stopped for a while.

 

I figured it's a bit too early for estivation as not sure how much time they've been able to forage in the last few weeks to last the whole summer.  I'd be curious to see when they go into full estivation if it's in the July/Aug/Sept time frame, or longer/shorter.  In that PDF, it made it sound like up north they really only have a short estivation of only a couple months.

 

Good. I really enjoy watching these.

[noebl1]

Just looked and all 7 of my P. imparis, even the one with the wings, looked like they've laid eggs.

 

 

Bring on the the Camponotus flights

[Nathant2131]

40% Chance of rain on Firday for me in Dracut, when it's supposed to be a high of 79. A flight may happen!

[zkublin]

Anyone see anything interesting today?  It is sunny and warm here in Somerville.

[Cindy]

Anyone see anything interesting today?  It is sunny and warm here in Somerville.

 

Camponotus nearcticus are active 

[noebl1]

Nothing here either other than a small Camponotus or Formica in a parking lot landed on my arm, and it wasn't an alate, LOL   Looks like Lasius today and some other Formica species were very active near work.

 

Tomorrow it wouldn't surprise me if Camponotus nearcticus and other C. Myrmentoma flew.  Based on last year, I think it's still too early for a large flight of C. pennsylvanicus (and similar) tomorrow.  There could be some P. imparis as well if not all of them have flown (so may be small localized flights.)

[akaant]

I found some Camponotus americanus alates today. Looks like they could fly soon!

 

Edited by akaant, April 28 2017 - 2:51 PM.

[noebl1]

I saw a *ton* of L. umbratus tonight.  Also one C. pennsylvanicus dealate wondering around aimlessly; guessing a colony ejection as saw no signs of any flights up by me.