842 replies to this topic

[YsTheAnt]

Rain doesn't seem to be too important for flights here. Mostly temperature.

[Pren-imp]

Hiked 3 hours around Black Diamond Mines in the east bay. I saw several mature colonies of Myrmecocystus mimicus but no signs of queens.

I have read July is the best time find them but not sure if I should just wait for rain before looking again?

I search from 10am to 1pm. Is there a better time to look for them? Park does not let you out there after dark.

[EthanNgo678]

Where to find da pheidole

[sirjordanncurtis]

I found one probably infertile pheidole that laid eggs near my blacklight by herself. It was a pretty hot day though.

[Antking123]

Anybody here hibernate ants and if you do how and which species? Also what happens when you miss hibernation can you make it up or something? 

Thanks

[sirjordanncurtis]

Anybody here hibernate ants and if you do how and which species? Also what happens when you miss hibernation can you make it up or something? 

Thanks

 

 

Many ants hibernate (I think pretty much all, except for exceptions ). If you want to find out which ones you have hibernate, you could search it up on antwiki, or look through the journals here to find out. It's pretty hard to miss hibernation, as it could span up to 5 or 6 months. You could hibernate the ants during different times, as the ones you keep are less affected by environmental changes.

[Jadeninja9]

Anybody here hibernate ants and if you do how and which species? Also what happens when you miss hibernation can you make it up or something?
Thanks

Many ants hibernate (I think pretty much all, except for exceptions ). If you want to find out which ones you have hibernate, you could search it up on antwiki, or look through the journals here to find out. It's pretty hard to miss hibernation, as it could span up to 5 or 6 months. You could hibernate the ants during different times, as the ones you keep are less affected by environmental changes.

This is quoted straight from a Brian Fisher email: “Unlike in more cooler regions, ants do not hibernate in the Bay area but life cycles such a reproduction (when winged queens and males are produced) and foraging patterns are determined by the weather and climate.”

[YsTheAnt]

For Camponotus, I find giving them a diapause period anyway seems to help stimulate egg production in their second year onward.

[Antking123]

Would a mini-fridge on the lowest setting work?

[YsTheAnt]

I wouldn't use the lowest setting at all. A slight chill is plenty with Bay Area weather. I would try to not use mini fridges since the refridgerant can frost and cause ant deaths. I would personally not go lower than the low 50's (Fahrenheit).

Instead of a mini fridge, you may want to consider a wine cooler. They don't run too cold, so you don't risk killing your ants, and they get just cold enough for the ants to get a good winter nap.

On a side note, I saw a huge foraging trail of Prenolepis imparis today, in July! I'm guessing the variety here is way different than the ones in other regions. Not only do they forage in the middle of the summer, but their nuptials are huge with queens littering the roads along the edges of forests.

[YsTheAnt]

Hiked 3 hours around Black Diamond Mines in the east bay. I saw several mature colonies of Myrmecocystus mimicus but no signs of queens.

I have read July is the best time find them but not sure if I should just wait for rain before looking again?

I search from 10am to 1pm. Is there a better time to look for them? Park does not let you out there after dark.

The M. mimicus around the Bay Area (or the CA foothills really) have flights that aren't well documented at all. I know that Drew caught one in March, but that's about it. I really want a colony of these...

[Pren-imp]

Anyone in the bay area looking for Solenopsis molesta "thief ants"?

There are a ton flying right now in Concord. Hot nights 80+ starting at 8pm. Easiest way to catch is grab them out of water. I have caught more then I know what to do with at Newhall Park.

[Antking123]

Anyone in the bay area looking for Solenopsis molesta "thief ants"?

There are a ton flying right now in Concord. Hot nights 80+ starting at 8pm. Easiest way to catch is grab them out of water. I have caught more then I know what to do with at Newhall Park.

Yeah they have been flying here in the bay area for over a month, probably one of the biggest nuptial flights and easiest species to find. Still on the lookout for S. xyloni or veromessor though 

[xLuciferx]

I am interested in buying a Thief Ant Queen if any one has one to spare. They are sparse in the valley. Also looking for CA honeypot ants.

[sirjordanncurtis]

I am interested in buying a Thief Ant Queen if any one has one to spare. They are sparse in the valley. Also looking for CA honeypot ants.

 

I have a few thief ant queens.

[sirjordanncurtis]

Do any of you guys keep or have kept Myrmecocystus?

[EthanNgo678]

Are there going to be any more nuptial flights?

[Derpy]

Yeah, look forward to the fall nuptial flights, crematogaster, Pogonomyrmex, aphaenogaster, etc.

[sirjordanncurtis]

Have you guys ever found Camponotus on a blacklight?

[Antking123]

Have you guys ever found Camponotus on a blacklight?

 

Tried that all summer but only found some males. The only place that people have had luck finding Camponotus alates in the last month or so is in the Santa Cruz mountains.