Mine was great even though my colonies didn't make it. At my new house I found a billion Aphaenogaster, Formica, and Lasius colonies, which are all some of my favorite genera. I also found Ponera, which I have wanted to find for a while now.

my fav sp i found this year was Manica hunteri

Mine was great even though my colonies didn't make it. At my new house I found a billion Aphaenogaster, Formica, and Lasius colonies, which are all some of my favorite genera. I also found Ponera, which I have wanted to find for a while now.

awesome! my house only has argentines and Brachymyrmex.(i'm a beginner tho, and not sure on that id. all I know is that they are the smallest)

My last anting season was one of the best! I finally moved away from those darn Argentines! You think Tetra's are bad? At least they stay on the ground! You know it's bad when the RIFA are loosing the battle! Anyways, I moved to a rural house on the lake that's actually pristine enough for tons of natives, and buckets of cryptics! I found Polyergus longicornis in the first week! I've made 3 state records so far, Strumigenys margaritae (which I found to be socially parasitic on louisianae), laevinasis, and Proceratium chickasaw. I've found more Strumigenys than I ever thought I would in a single season (I had previously only see 3 species), Stigmatomma pallipes, Proceratium croceum and silaceum, Cardiocondyla minutior, Camponotus subbarbatus, and many other lifers!

 

Outside of my yard I saw my first ever Pogonomyrmex badius, Aphaenogaster floridana, Dorymyrmex smithi, and Camponotus caryae. I hope this year will be even better. So far I found out that I accidentally collected a dead Neivamyrmex opacithorax worker at my Grandmother's house (where I've found tons of awesome species before), and now I've gotta look for a colony! Wish me luck!

I hope you find a colony!

 

Mine was great even though my colonies didn't make it. At my new house I found a billion Aphaenogaster, Formica, and Lasius colonies, which are all some of my favorite genera. I also found Ponera, which I have wanted to find for a while now.

awesome! my house only has argentines and Brachymyrmex.(i'm a beginner tho, and not sure on that id. all I know is that they are the smallest)

 

I mean, you do live in San Diego, which is pretty much all you've got there (quite a shame), though maybe your Prenolepis have made it through.

this year imma capture a second year M. hunteri colony

terrible, the only thing nice to see is when I got to see some Mymercoystus workers and Pogonomyrmex, and some Forelius. No queens at all though.. I am very hopeful for this year!

Edited by TechAnt, January 12 2021 - 12:45 PM.

yeah
i did see a nest cast for 300 bucks on ebay

well, selling it is one thing, having someone buy it is another.

 

 

yeah
i did see a nest cast for 300 bucks on ebay

well, selling it is one thing, having someone buy it is another.

No, you make a nest caste by pouring molten aluminum down a nest and letting it harden into a caste of their tunnels and chambers. Then the caste is dug up. This is what’s sold, often for hundreds of dollars. It’s considered art.

 

I think it's unethical personally, unless used on invasive species.

yeah
i did see a nest cast for 300 bucks on ebay

well, selling it is one thing, having someone buy it is another.

No, you make a nest caste by pouring molten aluminum down a nest and letting it harden into a caste of their tunnels and chambers. Then the caste is dug up. This is what’s sold, often for hundreds of dollars. It’s considered art.

I think it's unethical personally, unless used on invasive species.

 

 

 

yeah
i did see a nest cast for 300 bucks on ebay

well, selling it is one thing, having someone buy it is another.

No, you make a nest caste by pouring molten aluminum down a nest and letting it harden into a caste of their tunnels and chambers. Then the caste is dug up. This is what’s sold, often for hundreds of dollars. It’s considered art.

 

I think it's unethical personally, unless used on invasive species.

 

Tetra immigrans is invasive

i don't know, it sounds weird...

ok nevermind on that. It does look cool, but seems very expensive.

 

 

 

 

yeah
i did see a nest cast for 300 bucks on ebay

well, selling it is one thing, having someone buy it is another.

No, you make a nest caste by pouring molten aluminum down a nest and letting it harden into a caste of their tunnels and chambers. Then the caste is dug up. This is what’s sold, often for hundreds of dollars. It’s considered art.

 

I think it's unethical personally, unless used on invasive species.

 

Tetra immigrans is invasive

 

I only looked at the messages in this page and their was nothing about Tetramorium in any of these quotes, so I didn't realize. 

 

 

 

 

yeah
i did see a nest cast for 300 bucks on ebay

well, selling it is one thing, having someone buy it is another.

No, you make a nest caste by pouring molten aluminum down a nest and letting it harden into a caste of their tunnels and chambers. Then the caste is dug up. This is what’s sold, often for hundreds of dollars. It’s considered art.

 

I think it's unethical personally, unless used on invasive species.

 

Tetra immigrans is invasive

 

DIE TETRAS DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

over 8 dead tetra queens

I only have tetras in my pavement. They are probably the least common species in my yard, as it is ruled by native ants. I have found Formica Podzolica, Formica Fusca, Camponotus Modoc majors, Tapinoma Sessile, Solenopsis Molesta, Myrmica sp., Camponotus Vicinus, Lasius Flavus, Lasius Neoniger and a Formica Obscuripes worker. Pretty content with the ants I have.  My favorite queen find had to be Formica Obscuripes. I thought it was Pacifica at that time so it didn't make it. 

I only have tetras in my pavement. They are probably the least common species in my yard, as it is ruled by native ants. I have found Formica Podzolica, Formica Fusca, Camponotus Modoc majors, Tapinoma Sessile, Solenopsis Molesta, Myrmica sp., Camponotus Vicinus, Lasius Flavus, Lasius Neoniger and a Formica Obscuripes worker. Pretty content with the ants I have.  My favorite queen find had to be Formica Obscuripes. I thought it was Pacifica at that time so it didn't make it. 

Btw, only the genus name (first part) is capitalized.

Oh..... okay thanks.

Oh..... okay thanks.

You're all good. People do it all the time.

I only have tetras in my pavement. They are probably the least common species in my yard, as it is ruled by native ants. I have found Formica Podzolica, Formica Fusca, Camponotus Modoc majors, Tapinoma Sessile, Solenopsis Molesta, Myrmica sp., Camponotus Vicinus, Lasius Flavus, Lasius Neoniger and a Formica Obscuripes worker. Pretty content with the ants I have.  My favorite queen find had to be Formica Obscuripes. I thought it was Pacifica at that time so it didn't make it. 

Also, Formica fusca is purely a European species.