2451 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Rained out in Southern California.

[PTAntFan]

I know, right?  So dumb.  And then it will not be warm after the rain for like 10 days or something stupid so we'll have no idea when mating flights are happening.

[dspdrew]

It's never warm after rain here. It's always cold and windy for a few days.

[Gregory2455]

Rained out in Southern California.

Any flights possible?

[dspdrew]

Possibly. I don't see any ideal conditions.

[PTAntFan]

Warm today in the valley with mild breeze but mountains look cold.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, the weather this whole month has been crap when it comes to mating flights.

[Foogoo]

Headed out to the Cajon Pass this morning. Not much going on but did find a Formica francoueri and unknown alate wandering, I'm assuming they flew earlier in the week 

 

Stopped by Ice Canyon on my way back. Saw nothing but Liometopum occidentale, one colony had carpeted a tree with a few alates in the mix, not sure if they were moving nests or getting ready to fly. I may head back out there Friday night in hopes of finding some Camponotus.

[dspdrew]

You've been on quite a mission already this season. I haven't hardly looked anywhere yet because the weather has just been horrible for this.

[Foogoo]

You've been on quite a mission already this season. I haven't hardly looked anywhere yet because the weather has just been horrible for this.

Gotta take advantage of what time I can find before I lament another empty-handed season. 

 

True, but it has been getting warm which appears enough for some queens to fly.

[dspdrew]

I would probably be better off not finding anything this year.

[NightsWebs]

bah humbug Drew! we are going to get you some more novomessor cockerelli they are way cool

[Vendayn]

I'm still waiting for Solenopsis invicta to fly. I know someone saw them having a mating flight (but think that was in Texas). But the colony here in Southern Cali, I haven't seen any signs of queens at all...not even a hint of anything. Maybe the colony just hasn't produced alates this year, but the colony is over a year old...

 

However. Beginning to think I should skip those, and choose an ant that has smaller colonies/slower growth. I already have Pheidole megacephala and they are going to grow fast (three queens, and more on the way. Each queen lays on average 250 eggs a month). Plus the Acromyrmex versicolor colony will hopefully grow nice too. Granted, I say that and I'll probably still decide to keep Solenopsis invicta if I see queen(s) of them.

 

My actual goal might be to try keeping the huge Crematogaster queens again that I found last year. They are HUGE, even though the workers are small which is funny. I wasn't too interested with Crematogaster last year, but their colony sizes are very manageable and they don't grow too fast from my experience. I'd have to look through my posts I've made, when I found the queen I found. Think that was way later in the year in the Summer, around August. So, that be a long wait for them lol.

[PTAntFan]

Foogoo,

I might hit Mt. Baldy tomorrow...er, today. Looks to be 70+ by 10am. And yes, those Liometopum occidentale seem to rule the whole area.

[dspdrew]

The problem right now is that the humidity is extremely low.

[PTAntFan]

I wonder how that became a factor in the evolution. Higher humidity decreases chance of desiccation while the sexuals are above ground?

[PTAntFan]

Do you know when you look at the wunderground app of the humidity is accurate and is it for that moment only? It looks pretty high for today in a few spots right now. How do you forecast and what % is ideal?

[Foogoo]

Foogoo,

I might hit Mt. Baldy tomorrow...er, today. Looks to be 70+ by 10am. And yes, those Liometopum occidentale seem to rule the whole area.

Cool, let me know what you find! I was there around noon and there was nothing other than Liometopum.

[dspdrew]

Might get some mating flights this weekend if this little heatwave hits. It's going to be dry, but we had an even dryer heatwave last year this exact same time, and I found Dorymyrmex insanus, Crematogaster, Pheidole, Temnothorax, Liometopum occidentale, Solenopsis xyloni, S. molesta, and Formica francoeuri.

[PTAntFan]

But I want Camponotus.