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Ant species around Bay Area?


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16 replies to this topic

#1 Offline bmb1bee - Posted January 9 2022 - 8:47 PM

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Ok, so this is my very first post because I'm a complete newbie to formiculture. I'd like to know if there are any ant species around the Bay Area worth catching? It'd be cool if anyone could list down possible locations, dates, time, and methods of catching any queens. Thanks  :D


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#2 Offline Manitobant - Posted January 10 2022 - 5:20 PM

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The 5 most common ants in the bay area are:

1. Linepithema humile

2. Linepithema humile

3. Linepithema humile

4. Linepithema humile

5. Linepithema humile

In all seriousness, invasive argentine ants basically outcompete everything over there. You need to go out of the city in order to find most of the cool species.
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#3 Offline bmb1bee - Posted January 11 2022 - 11:47 AM

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You're pretty much right about that  :facepalm: I've checked out a lot of spots and have seen Argentine ants everywhere. The only other species I noticed was Tetramorium immigrans, which flew in July near my neighborhood. No idea where they came from, but they're no match for Linepithema humile and will probably be wiped out from around here.


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#4 Offline NancyZamora4991 - Posted January 11 2022 - 4:46 PM

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u can find Solenopsis, Pheidole, Prenolepsis Imparis, Solenopsis xyloni, Tapinona Sessile, Camponotus, Argentine ants. Cremogaster, and Tetramorrium. 

Idk about other cities but these are the ones I have found in San Jose.


Edited by NancyZamora4991, January 11 2022 - 4:47 PM.

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#5 Offline YsTheAnt - Posted January 12 2022 - 9:34 AM

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There are loads of native species in the more undisturbed areas of the bay. Lots of Camponotus, Veromessor, Solenopsis, Formica and more. Prenolepis imparis is fairly common too, and should start flying in a few weeks.


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#6 Offline bmb1bee - Posted January 12 2022 - 11:13 AM

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I might be checking out John McLaren Park in San Francisco this weekend, since there were recently a couple sightings of Camponotus vicinus queens there. No idea why they might be out at this time of year, but it's a good opportunity to find some, even if it's not their flight season... Does anyone know any locations where to find Solenopsis? I heard they're a really cool and fast-growing species, but I'm not sure where to find them.


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#7 Offline NancyZamora4991 - Posted January 12 2022 - 11:22 AM

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Solenopsis are basically everywhere. If you look you'll be able to find a colony. 


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#8 Offline NancyZamora4991 - Posted January 12 2022 - 11:27 AM

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Camponotus have been flying early this year. I caught one inside of my bathroom a week ago.


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#9 Offline bmb1bee - Posted January 12 2022 - 12:02 PM

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Wow, really? So maybe I really do have a chance to catch a Camponotus queen... 


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#10 Offline NancyZamora4991 - Posted January 12 2022 - 12:10 PM

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If you don't catch a nuptial flight, you can also dig up a founding chamber.


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#11 Offline bmb1bee - Posted January 12 2022 - 12:32 PM

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Hmm, I read that C. vicinus nests under rocks and logs in dryer areas, so I think I know where to look.


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#12 Offline NancyZamora4991 - Posted January 12 2022 - 12:33 PM

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Good Luck! :D


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#13 Offline bmb1bee - Posted January 12 2022 - 12:35 PM

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Thanks for your help!  :lol:


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#14 Offline bmb1bee - Posted January 15 2022 - 5:09 PM

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Went anting near John McLaren Park this morning. It was damp and moist everywhere. Found plenty of decent rotting wood and rocks to check out. Lo and behold, I flipped over a particularly large log and..! You guessed right!!! Blasted Linepithema humile crawling everywhere. Hundreds, if not thousands of workers. 3 queens (at least) and lots of brood. EVERY TIME I get my hopes up, I find queens. But FROM THE WRONG SPECIES. The only other ants I saw there were a few Prenolepis imparis workers, but absolutely no sign of my target species Camponotus vicinus. I might try again next week, but in the afternoon and in a warmer/drier spot where I might be more likely to find a queen Camponotus founding chamber...   :ugone2far:


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#15 Offline Saftron - Posted January 15 2022 - 9:28 PM

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I swear linepithema is anywhere and everywhere here! I'm really impatient right now as I wait for the 2022 nuptial flights. 


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#16 Offline bmb1bee - Posted January 16 2022 - 9:01 AM

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If I come back empty-handed then I'll have to wait a couple more months for other species to fly... Maybe I could try again in spring break or summer break. Or if not then take a vacation to LA or something, where there SHOULD be more ant species available...


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#17 Offline AlexLebedev - Posted April 29 2022 - 4:44 PM

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strange where i live there's alot of argentines in my disturbed areas but in a 5 mile radius I've found Pheidole Camponotus Pseudomyrmex Liometopum and veromessor all in parks near where i live and trails aswell.


What i am keeping Brachymyrmex patagonicus 1 worker x5 tetramorium immigrans 10 workers x2 lasius crypticus 5 workers Pheidole californica 6 queens150~ workers 10-30 majors, Formica argentea 10~ W

 

 

What I've kept crematogaster sp pheidole californica camponotus vicinus high elev, dumetorum,laevigatus, prenolepis imparis, pogonomyrmex californicus and subnitidus and californicus, veromessor andrei, camponotus sayi, hypoponera opacior ,Liometopum occidentale solnopsis molesta group, solenopsis xyloni.





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