2121 replies to this topic

[Nathant2131]

And now I'm finding female alates and dealate all over my driveway.

[Connectimyrmex]

Hundreds of Solenopsis molesta and Lasius flying at my house! My terrarium has maybe 3 S. molesta queens in it now.

[Nathant2131]

Alright I'm going inside. Buggies getting bad.

Could not see any flying, just dealates all over my driveway and only about 2 alates. No males either. Only a couple queens I found had the black gasters (meaning there's a parasite)

I still think this is a flight though, maybe I just saw the end of one that began earlier today.

 

Edit: Just posted it to the mating chart:

 

Species: Solenopsis molesta
Location: Dracut, Massachusetts
Date: 8/19/17
Time: ~7:20 PM (Note: This is when I first observed it, they likely were still flying before this)
Temperature: 80° F
Humidity: 55%
Rain: Last night

 

A strange "flight". At ~7:20 PM I went outside and realized a female alate with a black gaster (likely a parasite in her) sitting on top of a table in my bakyard. A couple minutes later I'm finding dozens upon dozens of dealate queens wandering on my driveway. I went inside at about 8:00 PM when the queens were still walking around strong. The bugs started biting.

 

In the short time that I observed this: I could not see any alates flying, I could not see swarming, I could not see any males. I only saw about 2 queens with wings, the many others were dealates. I only saw about 2 queens with black gasters.

 

The flight definitely started before my first observation as I was outside for only about 15 minutes before I found the first queen. (and I wasn't even looking for ants in the first place). 

Edited by Nathant2131, August 19 2017 - 4:25 PM.

[Connectimyrmex]

C pennsylvanicus queens were out too.

[Aquaexploder]

Only a couple queens I found had the black gasters (meaning there's a parasite)[/quote]

Lol now I know why my S. molesta queen isn't laying any eggs (tear rolls down my cheek).

Edited by Aquaexploder, August 19 2017 - 4:44 PM.

[Nathant2131]

Only a couple queens I found had the black gasters (meaning there's a parasite)[/quote]

Lol now I know why my S. molesta queen isn't laying any eggs (tear rolls down my cheek).

ahhh that sucks to hear.

[Salmon]

Yep, it was a myrmecophile cricket. I'm probably going to search for more to live with my C. chromaiodes.

Myrmecophila is the genus, btw.

[ctantkeeper]

Only a couple queens I found had the black gasters (meaning there's a parasite)[/quote]

Lol now I know why my S. molesta queen isn't laying any eggs (tear rolls down my cheek).

Sorry to hear that man

[Aquaexploder]

Oh well. I'm just happy they are still in abundance.

[Connectimyrmex]

I was lucky to find a C. pennsylvanicus mated queen (with wings). I got a broom to knock her down from the top of the garage door, but when I knocked her down SHE FLEW AWAY 

 

Also, I made a native forest terrarium. I put L. latipes x L. alienus, Solenopsis molesta, some plants, and an ambush bug inside. Should I put termites, aphids, crickets, and solitary bees inside as well? 

 

Some more bad news: My Myrmica queen is getting very sick. Her antennae seem paralyzed, and she walks fairly awkwardly. 

 

Sorry to hear about your Solenopsis molesta queen, Aquaexploder. I hope you find another one!

[rdurham02]

Looks like Formica spp. is flying some here this afternoon! Also, saw a Lasius queen but unfortunately she was dead and being carted off by a Camponotus. worker.

[Connectimyrmex]

Formica subseriscea and Aphaenogaster picea is flying. 

[Connectimyrmex]

Lasius umbratus flight yesterday/today.

Edited by Connectimyrmex, August 22 2017 - 11:55 AM.

[Connectimyrmex]

Camponotus pennsylvanicus and Lasius alienus flight yesterday (I didn't see the lasius, but I saw wings and dead female alates)

[Nathant2131]

Yesterday I found a Camponotus novaeboracensis winged queen walking around in Benson's Park, Hudson NH.

I was there all day yesterday, and there were tons of gigantic Parasitic Formica raids (I think that's what they were and what was happening)

[Connectimyrmex]

Camponotus is still flying? (other than C. pennsylvanicus)

[Aquaexploder]

What is everyone here's favorite species/genus in New England?

[noebl1]

I just got back from over a week in Colorado, and looks like I missed a few flights here   I was really hoping to catch Myrmica this season too, so hoping they will keep flying.  I did see a flight of what looked like Lasius while I was out in CO, but was at 10-11am out there, so not 100% sure on that ID.

 

My colonies seemed to have made it while I was gone as well.  My P. imparis seemed to have finally had an uptick in eclosing while I was gone, so have a bunch of new workers.  Also the one P. imparis colony I had with only 1 worker, seemed to have laid more eggs while I was gone; can't tell from the other colony has any new eggs as brood pile still too dense.

 

The Temnothorax from this season seem to have eclosed as well (probably one of the fastest from laying to eclosing I've seen), and again forget how tiny they are, especially the first nanitics.  

 

Lastly the pair of Lasius alienus I caught a few weeks back also seem to have laid eggs, however uncertain if fertile.

[ctantkeeper]

What is everyone here's favorite species/genus in New England?

Jeeze, its like choosing between two of your children lol. Here is my top 4 list of my favorite native species : 

 

4. Temnothorax (the whole genus)

3. Solenopsis molesta 

2. Pheidole pilifera

1. Monomorium emarginatum

[Aquaexploder]

What is everyone here's favorite species/genus in New England?

Jeeze, its like choosing between two of your children lol. Here is my top 4 list of my favorite native species : 
 
4. Temnothorax (the whole genus)
3. Solenopsis molesta 
2. Pheidole pilifera
1. Monomorium emarginatum

Ok cool just curious because maybe I'll can keep my eye out for them next year.