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 Conditions are Good for Preno Flights?

prenolepis flight nuptial flights imparis prenolepis imparis

  • Please log in to reply
9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Chickalo - Posted March 26 2021 - 11:22 AM

Chickalo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 809 posts
  • LocationSalem, Massachusetts

Hullo there, people of Formiculture

 

After recently discovering the existence of a Prenolepis imparis colony only a minute walk from my house (one more species to add to my town's list!), I realised:  How the heck am I supposed to know when they're gonna fly?  As one does, I turn to the internet.  Obviously after rain tends to be a given.  However, what about temperature, wind, etc?

 

I live in Swampscott, Massachusetts, which might help considering the same species might have different needs depending on their location.  Hopefully the forecast is accurate, so I can look for Prenolepis queens whilst pretending to tie my shoe when someone walks around, hoping they don't notice the test tube.

 

Thanks once again,

Chickalo


シグナチャーです。예.

 


#2 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted March 26 2021 - 11:23 AM

TennesseeAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,920 posts
  • LocationNashville, Tennessee

Literally the first few warm days in March and April.



#3 Offline CheetoLord02 - Posted March 26 2021 - 11:24 AM

CheetoLord02

    Vendor

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 781 posts
  • LocationMesa, AZ

mid afternoon (usually like 1-4pm)
over 68 degrees (fahrenheit)
usually wind doesn't matter much since they fly in forests
they fly in forests so look there lol


  • TennesseeAnts and Chickalo like this

#4 Offline AleeGuy - Posted March 26 2021 - 11:28 AM

AleeGuy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 383 posts
  • LocationNorthern Virginia
It's really easy predict their nuptial flight since the only thing they care is temperature and that's it. Go out when the temperature is above 68 Fahrenheit and for the time of the day it happens on the warmest time of the day which is usually around 2-4 pm.

Edited by AleeGuy, March 26 2021 - 11:29 AM.

  • MinigunL5 and Chickalo like this

#5 Offline Chickalo - Posted March 26 2021 - 11:31 AM

Chickalo

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 809 posts
  • LocationSalem, Massachusetts

It's really easy predict their nuptial flight since the only thing they care is temperature and that's it. Go out when the temperature is above 68 Fahrenheit and for the time of the day it happens on the warmest time of the day which is usually around 2-4 pm.

It's literally 4 degrees off right now what a scaaam

The highest temperature next week is 60 and raining, why can't Massachusetts have nice weather in early spring???

Welp.  I'm off to feed some wild Preno


Edited by Chickalo, March 26 2021 - 11:33 AM.

シグナチャーです。예.

 


#6 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted March 26 2021 - 12:51 PM

Kaelwizard

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,852 posts
  • LocationPoway, California

I have found a single infertile queen (about a billion percent sure she is just based on behavior alone). The queens I find are often just on the sidewalk and they will come out even when it is really windy.



#7 Offline Mettcollsuss - Posted March 27 2021 - 4:48 AM

Mettcollsuss

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,700 posts
  • LocationChicago, IL

Basically seconding what others have said.

They'll fly on the first set of warm days of the year (usually ~60°F/15°C in my experience). Having rain beforehand is useful, but they'll still fly without it as long as the temperature is right. 



#8 Offline Antcatcherpro3 - Posted March 27 2021 - 1:30 PM

Antcatcherpro3

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 637 posts
  • LocationBoston, MA

Based off my expirence, they fly at warm tempatures like 68 degrees F, in the afternoon , like around 3-5, and when there is usally now wind. The day after I caught a lot of queens, it was windy, and I didn't catch any queens. They weren't flying.


edit: the now was suppose to be no.


And right after a rainstorm.



#9 Offline MinigunL5 - Posted March 27 2021 - 8:16 PM

MinigunL5

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 550 posts
  • Location(Near) Worcester, MA

Look on on a day that has been preceded by a warm day or 2(most days in Massachusetts now are warm enough). They'll fly at the hottest period of the day so generally look when it 68+ degrees (they can fly at lower temps but usually won't have big flights). They usually fly 1-5 pm. Also, even hotter temps will probably lead to bigger flights. Also also, if a colony is in the sun they will be more likely to fly in colder temps compared to a colony that is not in the sun.

Disclaimer: This is just what I've heard from experienced people and based off then flights that have already happened in MA.


Edited by MinigunL5, March 27 2021 - 8:17 PM.


#10 Offline AleeGuy - Posted March 28 2021 - 6:51 AM

AleeGuy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 383 posts
  • LocationNorthern Virginia

I have found a single infertile queen (about a billion percent sure she is just based on behavior alone). The queens I find are often just on the sidewalk and they will come out even when it is really windy.

Ye that's a common thing, they do even in 10mph. If the wind speed is over that then they will just do it on the ground and in forests, since in forests there is less winds because of trees blocking some of it.





Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: prenolepis, flight, nuptial flights, imparis, prenolepis imparis

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users