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New Ant Enthusiast From East Bay

east bay bay area

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15 replies to this topic

#1 Offline RabidTanuki - Posted August 22 2017 - 11:18 AM

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New to collecting ants and was wondering wheres a good place to look for queens in East Bay or Bay Area. What kind of ant species are out here where I live.



#2 Offline RabidTanuki - Posted August 23 2017 - 8:32 AM

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I'm also looking for other ant enthusiasts in the Bay Area and East Bay. 



#3 Offline AntsMaryland - Posted August 23 2017 - 9:12 AM

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Look around a nearby park after a large rainstorm. You might be able to catch a Lasius queen like Lasius Neoniger


Aphaenogaster cf. rudis 

Tetramorium immigrans 

Tapinoma sessile

Formica subsericea

Pheidole sp.

Camponotus nearcticus


#4 Offline RabidTanuki - Posted August 24 2017 - 3:54 AM

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Is that a good species for a beginner? Hopefully it rains here. It hasn't rain for a long time now in the East Bay.



#5 Offline Studio - Posted August 24 2017 - 9:41 AM

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Is that a good species for a beginner? Hopefully it rains here. It hasn't rain for a long time now in the East Bay.

Lasius are one of the easiest and grow pretty quickly. In fact a lot of hobbyists in Europe usually buy Lasius niger as their first starter species because of how quick the colony grows and how easy they are to care for.



#6 Offline AntsMaryland - Posted August 24 2017 - 9:55 AM

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Yeah, they are also very fun ants. I have 8 Lasius queens that have layed eggs. They are pretty neat. If you manage to catch some, have fun!


Aphaenogaster cf. rudis 

Tetramorium immigrans 

Tapinoma sessile

Formica subsericea

Pheidole sp.

Camponotus nearcticus


#7 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted August 24 2017 - 5:10 PM

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You can also find other ant keepers in the park after a rain. Just look for the people walking with there eyes glued to the ground.


I accidentally froze all my ants 


#8 Offline RabidTanuki - Posted August 25 2017 - 8:40 AM

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Now I feel embarrassed lol! People gonna be looking at me wondering why I'm staring at the ground.



#9 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted August 25 2017 - 8:44 AM

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Just tell them your looking for ant queens, I'm sure they'll understand ;)


I accidentally froze all my ants 


#10 Offline RabidTanuki - Posted August 25 2017 - 2:16 PM

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Is it best to catch more then one queen for the first time doing this?



#11 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted August 25 2017 - 2:20 PM

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Is it best to catch more then one queen for the first time doing this?

Yes, just in case any die, which usually happens.


I accidentally froze all my ants 


#12 Offline RabidTanuki - Posted August 26 2017 - 1:58 AM

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I hope it will be easy for my first time then. Lol!



#13 Offline Californian Anter - Posted August 26 2017 - 1:01 PM

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Now I feel embarrassed lol! People gonna be looking at me wondering why I'm staring at the ground.

Just say you're facing crippling depression.

 

Anyway, fellow Bay Area antkeeper here. I'd say wait for early summer and look out for Tetramorium. 


Keeper of:

 

Camponotus Vicinus

Prenolepis Imparis

Tetramorium Sp. E x2


#14 Offline RabidTanuki - Posted August 26 2017 - 2:11 PM

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Do you always have to look for queens after a rain? Is there other times they will come out?



#15 Offline Shaye - Posted August 26 2017 - 11:31 PM

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It's not so much that queens come out, but alates have their flights after a bit of rain.
Easiest to catch some right after the nuptial flight.

A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?


#16 Offline RabidTanuki - Posted August 27 2017 - 12:42 AM

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I hope it rains soon out here in the east bay





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