2111 replies to this topic

[ConcordAntman]

🙄Guess I picked the wrong time to be out of town😕

[Fitzysgto]

I'm also from Mass. Lots of Camponotus pennsylvanicus in my area. 

[Scherme]

jeez. I have been on the lookout for C. Pennsylvanicus and have not spotted any.

 

I am hoping to grab a few so it forces me to update my journals 

[noebl1]

Yesterday I found my first dealate at 12:30p, and was still finding C. pennsylvanicus and C. nearcticus at 7pm flying, quite a large flight.

 

I am guessing with the 80Fs over the weekend, we should see them still flying. Camponotus fly many many times.

[Fitzysgto]

I just found red and black  ants. what are these?

[ConcordAntman]

I just found red and black  ants. what are these?

Do you mean some red ants and some black ants or ants that are red and black? A picture would help. If they look like this, it’s Camponotus americanus

[ConcordAntman]

Yesterday I found my first dealate at 12:30p, and was still finding C. pennsylvanicus and C. nearcticus at 7pm flying, quite a large flight.
 
I am guessing with the 80Fs over the weekend, we should see them still flying. Camponotus fly many many times.

Today I saw my first C. pennsylvanicus queen of the season. I’m still looking for C. americanus. I’ve found workers but no queens. Do you think they’ll be flying? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Fitzysgto]

they're red bodies and black abdomens. can't take a good pic. 

[ConcordAntman]

I suggest you invest in getting this:
https://www.amazon.c...&s=books&sr=1-1
I’ve found it helpful and informative.

[ConcordAntman]

Every 3-4 weeks, I use an aspirator to vacuum out debris from my nests. The ants get pretty worked up with my “housekeeping”. About 15 minutes after I’d finished and I thought the colony had calmed down, the queen ventured into the outworld!


I was worried that I’d stressed her out but eventually she returned to the nest and actually began laying eggs!!
http://www.formicult...hread/?p=117275
Is it common for claustral queens to leave the nest? Should I limit my housecleaning to avoid overstressing the queens??

[ConcordAntman]

they're red bodies and black abdomens. can't take a good pic.

If they’re large (5-7.5 mm), could be C. chromaiodes, C. nearcticus, or C. novaeboracensis. Check the field guide.

[ANTdrew]

You got some light reading back there for your ants. 

[ConcordAntman]

When I checked my colonies this morning, it was apparent I had a serious problem.


My C. pennsylvanicus queen caught 5/28/2018 was dead with a ruptured gaster and covered with a fungus.


Her antenna and two of her forelegs had been amputated.


While I doubt this was an inciting event, this was the same queen that took a “walkabout” after I’d vacuumed the nest. She laid eggs later that day with no sign of any problem other than a distended gaster (which I thought was filled with eggs). Eight days later, she’s dead☹️. It’s not clear whether the fungal infestation was the cause of demise or occurred post-mortem. I suspect the amputations were post-mortem though. In addition, I’ve noted 3 worker deaths in this colony over the week. I’ve not had any (that I could tell) in my other two colonies which (at this point) appear healthy.

As these three queens were captured within 48 hours of each other in my yard last year and have shared identical diets and nest conditions, I’m concerned for the viability of my two surviving colonies. I’ve been careful to keep the nectar dispensers and feeding dishes segregated to avoid cross-contamination, but I’m still worried.

I’ll likely never know what was the cause. I will closely follow my survivors to see what develops but, I’m not sure what to do with the surviving eggs, larvae, and pupae from the dead queen. I’ve already noted the deaths so I expect this colony to self destruct. I’ve also scanned the thread on the release of captive colonies and understand the argument against releasing. So, I should euthanize this colony if it doesn’t die on its own😢. Advice actively solicited...

[gaurangpanchal]

I am new to ant-keeping and have been gathering information for over a year now. This summer, I resolved to start a colony and care for it. I made my account on this forum a couple days ago and I am excited to catch/buy a queen.

I live in Boston and really appreciate any advice regarding nuptial flights, spotting queen ants, or buying queen ants.

 

Thanks in advance.

[noebl1]

I am new to ant-keeping and have been gathering information for over a year now. This summer, I resolved to start a colony and care for it. I made my account on this forum a couple days ago and I am excited to catch/buy a queen.

I live in Boston and really appreciate any advice regarding nuptial flights, spotting queen ants, or buying queen ants.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Welcome!!!  Camponotus flights are winding down a bit... but the Tetramorium, Formica, Lasius and other flights will be ramping up very soon    Walking walking and more walking, especially on hot/humid days. It's basically right place, right time, right weather conditions usually.   Depending on the species, urban vs rural areas will matter a bit.  However parks tend to have ants for sure.  Sidewalks are a great place to spot them, even drive ways.  I find a large number of my queens by just walking up and down my driveway.

[noebl1]

@ConcordMan... Sometimes things just happen that you have no control of.  I had 3 Tetramorium I got from a friends pool I kept out of 13 queens that were all fertile/mated.  I kept those 3 and gave the rest away.  1 colony died just before diapause in year 2, and the other two died just after diapause in year 3.  Fluke? Something I was doing wrong?  Genetic issues? Will never know.  Don't beat yourself up over it.

 

The other worker deaths may or may not be related, that's hard to tell.  I'd obviously keep an eye on the other two colonies to be safe, and euthanize the remaining workers and brood from the first one that failed.

Edited by noebl1, June 19 2019 - 10:52 AM.

[ConcordAntman]

Noebl1,
The colony survivors have been euthanized and the formicarium cleaned with hot water and vinegar (per THA). I’ve not seen any Camponotus flights this spring as large as the ones last year. Anyone got C. americanus queens for sale?

[noebl1]

I was out digging in the yard tonight, and stumbled on a recently dead Tetramorium male alate on the roof of the coop, so I guess they've started flying (at least in small numbers). Being so hot/humid, guess I shouldn't be too surprised.

 

I didn't get any C. americanus queens this year, sorry   Wasn't so lucky this season for them at all.

[noebl1]

Keep an eye out this weekend, especially Sunday for flights. Parasitic Lasius, Camponotus, and even Tetramorium could fly.

[ConcordAntman]

I had no luck finding anything but C. americanus workers in my hummingbird feeders so last Sunday I met akaant and adopted a 20-30 worker C. americanus colony!


So far, they seem to be settling in.