Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

What to look for when anting? (how to find newly mated queens)


  • Please log in to reply
35 replies to this topic

#21 Offline Foogoo - Posted March 9 2015 - 5:18 PM

Foogoo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,161 posts
  • LocationLos Angeles, CA

Dug up my first successful Dorymyrmex insanus founding chambers today. Before today, I really had no idea what founding chambers look like, Drew's video clip from the desert helped a lot. I took some photos that will hopefully help others without much field experience.

 

My method today was to scan the ground about 5'-10' out (watch out for cars/bikes!) and look for where the ground has been disturbed/small dirt mounds. If you get closer and the mound has a hole, it's likely something else. Here are a few founding chambers that yielded a queen. There's a rule on my shovel if you look closely:

dZ13rP6l.jpg

 

Here are two, one at the tip of the shovel and one at the handle/scoop interface:

r666Jl2l.jpg

 

Feeling confident? Here I took a photo from my perspective when I was scanning and something caught my eye which subsequently yielded an occupied founding chamber. Can you spot the chamber(s)?

 

Number 1

Number 2


Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta


#22 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 9 2015 - 6:50 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

You found a chamber in that second picture? I wouldn't have even looked down in a spot that looks like that. :lol:



#23 Offline Foogoo - Posted March 9 2015 - 6:58 PM

Foogoo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,161 posts
  • LocationLos Angeles, CA

You found a chamber in that second picture? I wouldn't have even looked down in a spot that looks like that. :lol:

 

Two! Some of the queens already layed eggs.


Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta


#24 Offline Foogoo - Posted March 18 2015 - 8:12 AM

Foogoo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,161 posts
  • LocationLos Angeles, CA

Woah, that's a lot of videos. Sorry about that, and here is what to look for if you make it a few days after the flight.

Do you remember what species dug these founding chambers? The mound shape and exposed entrance look distinctively different from the Dorymyrmex chambers that have recently flew.


Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta


#25 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted March 18 2015 - 10:56 AM

Gregory2455

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,286 posts
  • LocationCalifornia
Pogonomyrmex rugosus.

#26 Offline kellakk - Posted March 18 2015 - 11:29 AM

kellakk

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 603 posts
  • LocationSouthern California

Different species have different founding chambers.  I think a lot of it has to do with the size of the queen's mandibles, but the way they pile the dirt also is different.


Current Species:
Camponotus fragilis

Novomessor cockerelli

Pogonomyrmex montanus

Pogonomyrmex rugosus

Manica bradleyi

 

 


#27 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 18 2015 - 1:52 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Most of the founding chambers I have seen look just like the founding chambers that P. rugosus make. The only other ants I have seen that make founding chambers like Dorymyrmex insanus were Pheidole xerophila. I of course have only seen founding chambers from some species of ants, so those are the only ones I can speak of.



#28 Offline BrittonLS - Posted May 31 2015 - 8:40 AM

BrittonLS

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 284 posts
  • LocationFt. Worth, Texas
So, I've been really confused whether or not I should be looking for flights with how much rain and flooding has been going on in Texas. It seems to have let up now, but still lots of flooding left over. Do you think ants have already flown during the intermittent heavy rain? Do you think it's 'too' wet for some ants? Should I wait for the ground to dry up some? Should I be out trying to dig up chambers? It also hasn't gotten too hot yet, yesterday was only 70 or 75, though it might get up to 80s today or soon.

I'd especially like to find Pogonomyrmex, but others like camponotus would be nice too if it's not too late for them. It's probably a little early for p.barbatus too.

#29 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 1 2015 - 7:02 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Once the ground starts to dry out, and temps get closer to 80, I bet you will find some queens flying. A lot of queens fly right after dark too, so you need to check the temperatures at the time it gets dark. If it's around 70F or above after dark, then there should probably be something flying. Also, you can always look for founding chambers in open dirt areas in case you already missed their flight.



#30 Offline AntsTexas - Posted June 1 2015 - 8:20 AM

AntsTexas

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 340 posts
  • LocationLubbock, Texas

what do the Pogonomyrmex founding chambers look like? / how do i find them? in case i missed them flying, i read somewhere on here about half-moon shaped dirt leading into the nest/colony but i looked around here where i live i found some but  they were some other kind of ants.....


Edited by Ant Man, June 1 2015 - 8:30 AM.

Ant Queens found:

 

Solenopsis Invicta,  Solenopsis xyloni,  Brachymyrmex depilis/Sp,  Myrmecocystus Mimicus,  Pogonomyrmex barbatus,

Forelius pruinosus,  Camponotus sayi, Dorymyrmex insanus, crematogaster ashmeadi,

 

----------------------------------------

Ant Queens i have going right now:

 

camponotus sayi, solenopsis invicta, Myrmecocystus Mimicus, Forelius pruinosus

Pogonomyrmex barbatus, and some others (no i.d.)

---------------------------------------

YouTube:  AntsTexas

 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/cdockray1

 

Facebook page:  AntsTexas


#31 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 1 2015 - 8:55 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

There are pictures of them on this thread and it tells exactly how to find them. Did you read it?



#32 Offline AntsTexas - Posted June 1 2015 - 9:10 AM

AntsTexas

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 340 posts
  • LocationLubbock, Texas

sorry should hav read the whole thing b4 posting this :(


Ant Queens found:

 

Solenopsis Invicta,  Solenopsis xyloni,  Brachymyrmex depilis/Sp,  Myrmecocystus Mimicus,  Pogonomyrmex barbatus,

Forelius pruinosus,  Camponotus sayi, Dorymyrmex insanus, crematogaster ashmeadi,

 

----------------------------------------

Ant Queens i have going right now:

 

camponotus sayi, solenopsis invicta, Myrmecocystus Mimicus, Forelius pruinosus

Pogonomyrmex barbatus, and some others (no i.d.)

---------------------------------------

YouTube:  AntsTexas

 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/cdockray1

 

Facebook page:  AntsTexas


#33 Offline Kwitzats - Posted September 13 2015 - 12:02 PM

Kwitzats

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 78 posts
  • LocationCentral Texas
Uv light! I would of never thought of that!

IMHO of course.


#34 Offline Crystals - Posted September 23 2015 - 8:36 AM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,048 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

I know there are several types of UV lights, but here is a simple design I had never seen before (courtesy of Nick from http://www.chameleonforums.com). Just add an escape barrier and ants can not climb out.

 

 

I suspect I will make something like this to catch some feeder insects for my ants.

It can be made out of wood, corregated platic, or even a square pail.

 

 

Other than that, I tend to find most of my queens running down my driveway, or under stones.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#35 Offline Foogoo - Posted September 23 2015 - 9:46 AM

Foogoo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,161 posts
  • LocationLos Angeles, CA

I bet you can make that pretty easily with a rectangular bucket and UV lamp or LEDs for a quick and cheap blacklight trap! I'd do it if I didn't already make mine.


Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta


#36 Offline William. T - Posted September 23 2015 - 6:26 PM

William. T

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 725 posts
  • LocationWestern Maryland

Backlighting works! I attended a seminar and the guy there caught a massive batch of Myrmica. Backlighting also attracts some of the common white moths that make Okayish table fare for ants.  


Edited by William. T, September 23 2015 - 6:26 PM.

Species I keep:

 

1 Lasius cf. Neoniger 30 workers

1 Camponotus sp. 15 workers

20 Tetramorium SpE 30 workers

1 T. Sessile 200 workers

 





0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users