14 replies to this topic

[CNewton]

This will be my first queen hunting year. This is what I'm basicly going on.
-Flights typically happen the day after rain, with little wind and high humidity.

Do nest send alates more than once a year? Or, if I miss their flight, is it a 1 time deal? I am impatiently waiting for flights worrying I've missed them. It is still very early in the season for many local species though.

[Nathant2131]

Many species will fly more than once. Where are you located?

[CNewton]

I'm out in western NY, USA. It just rained today, so I am keeping some test tubes on me at work and during lunch tomorrow.

[Nathant2131]

Camponotus are probably flying there, and Tetramorium have just about started flying for the Northeast.

[ace2184]

I'm in the same boat Newton, not to hijack your thread, didn't want to necessarily start a new post. You covered most my questions. I'm in western Washington state and after a couple weeks of nice sun lately, it's been raining today. I read that nuptial flights tend to happen after a rainy day. Am I right to assume tomorrow/this weekend would be a decent time to go out looking?

[Cameron C. Thomas]

I'm in the same boat Newton, not to hijack your thread, didn't want to necessarily start a new post. You covered most my questions. I'm in western Washington state and after a couple weeks of nice sun lately, it's been raining today. I read that nuptial flights tend to happen after a rainy day. Am I right to assume tomorrow/this weekend would be a decent time to go out looking?

 

I'm in Spokane for a few days, and it seems like conditions are going to be good for anting on Sunday-Wednesday of this coming week, but I'm expecting flight conditions all over the state. If I were you, I'd be out as much as possible Sunday and Monday, maybe Tuesday. Because much of our state is forested or grassy, blacklight and sheet setups are a godsend. If you're out in sagebrush habitat, anting on the ground is a little easier.

 

I'll be back on the western side of the state tomorrow, and I'm expecting heavy flying at the end of the weekend and early next week. We've had a crazy cold summer west of the Cascades, and everything is late, phenologically speaking. Camas is still blooming in the Willamette Valley, OR. It's ridiculous. So I'm expecting later than usual flights for a lot of species. If things haven't been too cold on the east side, Tetramorium will be flying in the mornings, and I'll be looking for it on the west side as well but wouldn't be surprised if it's another week or so. Sidewalk searching is an easy way to grab Tetramorium, and they fly like crazy right around sunrise and walk around until almost noon.

 

Tapinoma sessile is another easy species if you're near a city and is an evening flyer. Colonies I monitor on the west side have usually flown by this point, but alate pupae are still less than half eclosed because of this summer. Good luck this weekend, and focus on heat wave days!

[yazetta]

Hi,

 

following the subject of this topic, below i wrote some questions.

 

1 - Which factors influence the process of development and realization of the nuptial flight?

 

2 - Do the quantity of princes and queens depends only from the species of the queen? Does this factor permits to achieve a standardization?

 

3 - Can queens be fertilized by princes of the same colony? If yes, is it common?

 

4 - Do queens have preferences for the action of reproductive ritual? That is, do they have preferences for differential, especific caracteristics from the partner ? If the answer to the question number three is yes, then related to the previous question, is there a preference for princes of other colonies in relation to their own?

 

5 - When queens flight, does t exist the "north" for them?, the assurance about their position, and where are they going to? For example, a colony that attracts others by proliferation of essences or some other caracteristic perseived by the senses?

 

6 - Do exist the possibility of force, make the process of preparation from the nuptial flight, before the time? For example, the simulation of attributes (linked with the answer number one) to the action.

 

7 - When you have a colony in captivity, and it passes through the process of nuptial flight exists a risk to the mother queen or to the rest of colony, if this fertily lineage it is not withdrawn? If yes, how can you do to realize this process of separation without stress the rhythim of the other ants?

 

8 - Do exist the mating between ants of the same genus, but with different species? For example, Atta texana and Atta laevigata.

[Russell]

I have seen what I think is Tapinoma sessile fly several times from the same nest over several weeks in Victoria BC Canada. They appear to fly around the same time 11am when the Sun is on nest and temp around 20 degree C. After they fly though I am never able to find them on the ground away from nest?.
Sunny hot days seams to trigger a number of local species here and my best finds.

[Cameron C. Thomas]

I have seen what I think is Tapinoma sessile fly several times from the same nest over several weeks in Victoria BC Canada. They appear to fly around the same time 11am when the Sun is on nest and temp around 20 degree C. After they fly though I am never able to find them on the ground away from nest?.
Sunny hot days seams to trigger a number of local species here and my best finds.

 

Queens of T. sessile are tiny and not much bigger than workers, which only get up to around 3 mm. These aren't queens you'd find easily looking for them on the ground, and even if you saw one on the sidewalk, you'd need to get a close look at it to tell its a queen.

[Russell]

I have seen what I think is Tapinoma sessile fly several times from the same nest over several weeks in Victoria BC Canada. They appear to fly around the same time 11am when the Sun is on nest and temp around 20 degree C. After they fly though I am never able to find them on the ground away from nest?.
Sunny hot days seams to trigger a number of local species here and my best finds.

 
Queens of T. sessile are tiny and not much bigger than workers, which only get up to around 3 mm. These aren't queens you'd find easily looking for them on the ground, and even if you saw one on the sidewalk, you'd need to get a close look at it to tell its a queen.

Yes we caught a few close( within 20ft) of the nest on the ground a couple hours after the flight had ended, but I don't think they are fertile. Today I see they are flying again so maybe we will go down the street from the next and try for a fertile one. Either that or start looking for some larger species. I got a number of Camponotus queens in May that now all have eggs. They are so big you can't miss them.

[ace2184]

 

I'm in the same boat Newton, not to hijack your thread, didn't want to necessarily start a new post. You covered most my questions. I'm in western Washington state and after a couple weeks of nice sun lately, it's been raining today. I read that nuptial flights tend to happen after a rainy day. Am I right to assume tomorrow/this weekend would be a decent time to go out looking?

 

I'm in Spokane for a few days, and it seems like conditions are going to be good for anting on Sunday-Wednesday of this coming week, but I'm expecting flight conditions all over the state. If I were you, I'd be out as much as possible Sunday and Monday, maybe Tuesday. Because much of our state is forested or grassy, blacklight and sheet setups are a godsend. If you're out in sagebrush habitat, anting on the ground is a little easier.

 

I'll be back on the western side of the state tomorrow, and I'm expecting heavy flying at the end of the weekend and early next week. We've had a crazy cold summer west of the Cascades, and everything is late, phenologically speaking. Camas is still blooming in the Willamette Valley, OR. It's ridiculous. So I'm expecting later than usual flights for a lot of species. If things haven't been too cold on the east side, Tetramorium will be flying in the mornings, and I'll be looking for it on the west side as well but wouldn't be surprised if it's another week or so. Sidewalk searching is an easy way to grab Tetramorium, and they fly like crazy right around sunrise and walk around until almost noon.

 

Tapinoma sessile is another easy species if you're near a city and is an evening flyer. Colonies I monitor on the west side have usually flown by this point, but alate pupae are still less than half eclosed because of this summer. Good luck this weekend, and focus on heat wave days!

 

 

Thank you Cameron, that is extremely helpful information. I wasn't even aware there were any Tapinoma here in the northwest. I work in a city/urban area, but when I have off time I'll be checking wooded trails. 

[Mwille]

I live in southern Minnesota and will be in Des Moines Iowa in about a week, does Tetramorium have their nuptial flights around now or have I missed it. Also if there is going to be any others happening around this time please share. Thanks for the help. 

[Zeiss]

I live in southern Minnesota and will be in Des Moines Iowa in about a week, does Tetramorium have their nuptial flights around now or have I missed it. Also if there is going to be any others happening around this time please share. Thanks for the help. 

You can use the flight chart dspdrew put together that is found on the forum home page to see when their flights will be.  Also check weather as that plays a large factor in when flights will occur.

 

Remember it is illegal to bring ants across state lines without proper permits.

[Chadwig]

I live in southern Minnesota and will be in Des Moines Iowa in about a week, does Tetramorium have their nuptial flights around now or have I missed it. Also if there is going to be any others happening around this time please share. Thanks for the help. 

If you are still in Minnesota, pavement ants just flew this week. I've caught 11 queens and some already have eggs. If you can't find any and are going to be keeping them in Minnesota, I have a post on the marketplace where I'll add the pavement ant queens. Just send me an email!

[Lazarus]

You can use the flight chart dspdrew put together that is found on the forum home page to see when their flights will be.  Also check weather as that plays a large factor in when flights will occur.

 

This is the one he is talking about: http://www.formicult...ngmating-chart/