2460 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

If you want M. mexicanus to the Llano/El Mirage/Adelanto area. Adelanto had the highest density of them I have ever seen anywhere.

[SirAnticus]

How about Novomessor. You seem to have good success with those

[dspdrew]

Almost looks like possible mating flight conditions in the Coachella Valley area tomorrow. Rain today with a high of 71 F tomorrow. I doubt anything would fly this early, but you never know. Veromessor pergandei and Myrmecocystus tenuinodis (I think) flew just two weeks later than this out there in 2015. Temperatures reached the 80's that time though, so it's probably not quite warm enough yet.

[T.C.]

I travel a lot, If I am ever down your way, we will have to go together. I'll let you know.

[Alabama Anter]

And the missions starts... *dramatic music*

[dspdrew]

Looks like it reached 73 F out in the low desert yesterday after a lot of rain the day before. I noticed that Veromessor pergandei actually flew in Phelan, CA when it only reached a high of about 65 degrees in 2014, so who knows... maybe something could have flown if they had some alates in the nest already.

[CrazyLegs]

Loving those pics.

Do I need to look at getting a better camera for images like those?

[dspdrew]

Thanks. Probably not. I just use an old point-and-shoot camera.

[Shareallicu]

We had a pretty good night up in Mt. Baldy. Between me, Chromerust, and kellakk, we found about 30 of those large black and orange Tanaemyrmex Camponotus.

 

 

 

No C. vicinus this time, which were what I really wanted, especially the all-black ones. We didn't even see any alates around the entrances to their nests. We didn't see any alates around the entrance of Liometopum occidentale nests yet either. I guess we now know which ones fly first.

Wow, Pretty!  She looks ready for Halloween.  I wish we had those kind of Camponotus up here in Washington  

Edited by Shareallicu, January 31 2017 - 2:48 PM.

[soulsynapse]

Dang, yall are out anting already?!

 

I'd be interested in a meet up, really hoping to keep veromessor this year

[Vendayn]

Well, ants are starting to wake up around here (Southern California). Monomorium ergatogyna have come out of hibernation. Yesterday I saw a small line of them, and usually they are among the first ants to wake up. Late Spring/Summer their colonies are huge, then they shrink down a lot after Winter is over. But, its a sign for us Californians that anting season is about to start!

[soulsynapse]

Couple days after these showers it'll hit a high of 79f in riverside

[Enderz]

has it been raining there drew?

[dspdrew]

Wow yeah, it is supposed to jump up 20 degrees right after this rain. Too bad most of it barely went in much further than the coast. I wouldn't be surprised if Dorymryrmex insanus fly in the foothills around here. Not sure if these conditions will trigger a Prenolepis imparis flight though. I don't have much experience with them other than seeing the aftermath of a mating flight (thousands of dead males all over in one spot). Other than that, I have never even seen a Prenolepis imparis queen before. I think this could also possibly trigger a Veromessor pergandei flight, since those can be found all the way into the Riverside area. It' still pretty early though, so I wouldn't count on anything flying.

[soulsynapse]

Went on a trail to see if there was anything neat flying.. nothin flying but lots of stuff is very active

 

Pogonomyrmex + veromessor side by side here

 

 

shot in the hills north west of hemet, ca

[SoySauce]

We are planning a trip to the Mojave desert next weekend to do a little overlanding and queen ant hunting. Hopefully we'll have something positive to report back.

[soulsynapse]

Please let us know!

[dspdrew]

Being that the Mojave desert hasn't gotten any rain lately, I doubt any queens will be found there.

 

As for Hemet and the Riverside area, I think there is a chance Veromessor pergandei could fly tomorrow. It's actually supposed to be pretty warm and HUMID as well. This weather is definitely not typical for this time of the year. Usually for a few days immediately after a storm goes through in the winter it gets very cold and dry.

 

Prenolepis imparis also could fly in the foothills.
 
Here is some of the recent data I have for both species.
 

Species               year  Month  Week  Continent      Country  State  City	   Weather
Veromessor pergandei  2015  2      1     North America  USA      CA     Riverside  hot

Species             year  Month  Day  Time     Continent      Country  State  City	       Weather
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prenolepis imparis  2014  2      14   1:00 PM  North America  USA      CA     Trabuco Canyon   warm
Prenolepis imparis  2015  2      17   2:00 PM  North America  USA      CA     West Sacramento  65F
Prenolepis imparis  2015  2      20   2:00 PM  North America  USA      CA     West Sacramento  65F

Edited by dspdrew, February 9 2017 - 7:04 AM.

[SoySauce]

Thank you for your insight Drew. Which desert area around SoCal would you think we'd have a better chance in finding queens?

[T.C.]

I was in California about 2 years ago just passing through. What I believe was Veromessor pergandei were flying and it hadn't rained in that area for two-three weeks at least. Although all i seen were drones?  Is it normal for them to fly without raining in that long?

Edited by T.C., February 9 2017 - 12:41 PM.