11 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

We shot a little video of us digging up queens in the Mojave Desert yesterday, so everybody can see exactly what it's like. A strange monsoon-like rainstorm blew through Southern California January 30th, dropping about .3 inches of rain to some parts of the desert. This obviously triggered a couple mating flights some time within the following week. We found both Veromessor pergandei and Myrmecocystus yuma. It was around 80 degrees while we were out there, yet there were almost no ants out at all--just founding chambers. If we saw any activity at all, it was just around the entrance of some of the nests. Even though the rain came through over a week ago, the ground was still very wet. In the middle of the summer, you usually have about three days before the ground dries up, but this early in the year you obviously have much more time. This spot was just off HWY 74, right up the mountain from Palm Desert, California. The elevation there was about 2500 feet, but we did also find a few queens all the way down at the base of the mountains as well, where the elevation was probably around 250 feet.

 

Anyway, here's the video. We kept the camera running until we dug up two queens, so you can see exactly how long it takes. Short of catching a mating flight when it happens, finding queens in the desert is definitely much easier than anywhere else.

 

[Chromerust]

I should get a job as a cameraman

[Foogoo]

finding queens in the desert is definitely much easier than anywhere else.

Do you say this because of the climate, land, all of the above?

I'm planning to drive to Barstow for other business and want to stop and look for ants along the way. What are some indicators of ant habitat? Water? Vegetation?

[dspdrew]

In the desert it's easier because all the open dirt and sand makes it really simple to see founding chambers.

 

Any part of the desert can have ants.

[Gregory2455]

I should get a job as a cameraman

rofl

 

 

 

finding queens in the desert is definitely much easier than anywhere else.

Do you say this because of the climate, land, all of the above?

I'm planning to drive to Barstow for other business and want to stop and look for ants along the way. What are some indicators of ant habitat? Water? Vegetation?

 

 

It is easier, not exactly cues or indicators as you may think, other than some massive mounds that some species such as Veromessor and Acromyrmex build. Founding chambers are obvious, as they are not hidden in grass or anything, they are just out in the open, and the calcium rich sand is easy to dig up without hurting the queens inside.

[Foogoo]

I just got the chance to watch the video and I gotta say thanks for posting it! It helps immensly to see exactly what the founding chambers look like and your technique of digging them up.

[dspdrew]

I was hoping it would help some of the new people.

[LAnt]

How do you get your weather updates for the desert?

[dspdrew]

http://www.wunderground.com

[LAnt]

But how do you know when the rain is coming? Do you check it frequently?

[Gregory2455]

Yes. I look at it whenever I get free time.
Even though you only need a glance.

[dspdrew]

But how do you know when the rain is coming? Do you check it frequently?

 

There's a 10 day forecast. Keep watching it, and when you see there's a chance of rain, start watching the radar. There isn't any measuring or records kept in most places in the desert, so you have to watch the radar to know whether or not it rained.