108 replies to this topic

[BMM]

I've been watching for Formica queens but haven't seen any yet. Any tips on finding them?

 

Also it's practically raining Solenopsis molesta here. Everyday there are dozens and dozens of them scattered across my patio.

[ultraex2]

From what I've seen so far they seem to fly less concentrated and more spread out than say, Tetramorium, so you will want to always keep an eye out and you probably won't notice their nuptial flight.  I've had luck finding them underneath larger, flat rocks in/around lawns.

[OhioAnts]

Been looking around my town in Cinci, Ohio and have not had any luck. Hoping to come across some queens sooner or later!

[ultraex2]

Been looking around my town in Cinci, Ohio and have not had any luck. Hoping to come across some queens sooner or later!

 

Are you able to set out a pot of water or something?  That may help!  I know a lot of people (including me) have caught lots of queens that are stuck in pools of water.

[Antsinmycloset]

I've been watching for Formica queens but haven't seen any yet. Any tips on finding them?

 

Also it's practically raining Solenopsis molesta here. Everyday there are dozens and dozens of them scattered across my patio.

They seem to fly in the early morning, especially if it's after a rain. If it rained during the night, give it a day. I've found a few flights around noon that way, but I suspect earlier will be more profitable based on how scarce they were.

I also consistently see Formica workers wandering around everywhere I've found a queen, so you may be able to scout out locations pretty easily ahead of time.

Edited by Antsinmycloset, July 21 2017 - 5:29 PM.

[Ameise]

I am hoping that there is a second camponotus flight. Wouldn't mind getting more subbarbatus or maybe a nearcticus.

[OhioAnts]

 

Been looking around my town in Cinci, Ohio and have not had any luck. Hoping to come across some queens sooner or later!

 

Are you able to set out a pot of water or something?  That may help!  I know a lot of people (including me) have caught lots of queens that are stuck in pools of water.

 

Yeah I can do that for sure! I'll put out some water in my backyard and see if I can get lucky!

[ultraex2]

Just found a Formica/L. Niger queen under a rock yesterday!  Was the only one, unfortunately.

 

I also managed to grab a Solenopsis Molesta queen from a light last night too, not sure if it's mated as it was the only ant as far as I could tell but we'll see.

[Ameise]

Just found a Formica/L. Niger queen under a rock yesterday!  Was the only one, unfortunately.

 

I also managed to grab a Solenopsis Molesta queen from a light last night too, not sure if it's mated as it was the only ant as far as I could tell but we'll see.

I haven't seen any new queens in the last two weeks. I'd had an S. molesta queen, but she died. I still have a colony in a glass container... not sure what to do as containing them will be difficult in a formicarium.

Edited by Ameise, August 15 2017 - 6:05 PM.

[Senbonzakura]

I live in St. Louis, must have been a huge flight of whatever this ant (http://imgur.com/a/jdI0p) is found so many in just my pool alone don't even have enough test tubes for all of them.

[Martialis]

Aphaenogaster, methinks. Nice!

[BMM]

I've been keeping a look out for those and any potential Lasius flights, but I've seen nothing around me.

[Senbonzakura]

About 2 weeks ago I found a parasitic Lasius, but that was it

[ultraex2]

Caught 3 Formica last week as well as an Aphaenogaster queen.  I also managed to catch another Aphaenogaster queen with several nanitics and eggs, unfortunately it died.  I also did manage to catch 1 Stenamma queen as well.

 

It's gotten a lot cooler lately so I haven't been looking as much - Labor day is coming which means L. Neoniger soon!

[Martialis]

I haven't really had time to look. I'm hoping I'll get some before next year.

[BMM]

We had some thunderstorms last night followed by a warm morning, so I was hoping there might be some flights today, but no luck. I'm hoping to catch at least one Lasius queen before the year's up. Does anyone know about what time of day they normally fly? It seems like people report anything from the morning to midnight. That makes it kind of hard to know when to hunt for them.

[Antsinmycloset]

I don't know what's normal, but I've had some luck with late afternoon to dusk for  Lasius  and Crematogaster, BMM. Are you thinking specifically Lasius neoniger, or just... anything?

[BMM]

Any non-parasitic Lasius species really.

[ultraex2]

I caught another Aphaenogaster queen, not too sure on species but I'm kind of thinking it's parasitic... Hopefully I can pick up some L. Neoniger too. 

[ultraex2]

Lasius Neoniger flew in northern Illinois today!

Did some night ant hunting and caught 6 of them.

Edited by ultraex2, September 11 2017 - 5:30 PM.