4 replies to this topic

[Foogoo]

Do Dorymyrmex bicolor colonies disappear after swarming? Or could they have been nearly wiped out within 2-3 weeks?

 

I visited the site about 3 weeks ago and saw multiple nests, as well as a large network nest stretching about 50 feet with workers, alates and males running around ready to swarm. I returned the week after hoping to find founding chambers. I found small mounds identical to founding chambers but they were all empty. Seems like all the nests were also abandoned. I returned today and there were tons more of the founding chamber-like mounds, some clustered together. On two occasions I witnessed a fly scurry in, nothing came up from digging though. The previous bicolor nests looked just as abandoned.

 

Is this normal behavior? Or could a predatory fly/wasp have knocked them out of the area that fast?

[dspdrew]

I think they're ground nesting wasps. Last night we found everything from wasps to caterpillars, to some strange creatures we couldn't even identify, to beetles to queen ants (and male ants  --I'll be posting about that later) in nests that look exactly like Dorymyrmex founding chambers.

[Vendayn]

It is possible they moved locations.

 

I've seen ants literally pack up and evacuate to up to over 100+ feet away. At one point, a Solenopsis invicta colony went up a hill (100 feet high) and disappeared into the hill top.

 

Though not sure how common that is. Its possible another ant invaded them (Neivamyrmex would be the species that would have made this likely to happen) or possibly Argentine ants drove them off. But, unless there are no Argentine ants anywhere near there...that wouldn't be it.

 

My guess is actually Neivamyrmex came by and raided them, the Dorymyrmex then packed up and evacuated to where they could. There are a lot of Neivamyrmex colonies in southern california, and I've seen them raiding Argentine ant nests before. In fact, when they come by, the Argentine ants are completely gone from the area. There was a valley where I used to live, and the Neivamyrmex would completely wipe out every single Argentine ant in the area.

 

The other option is someone came by and sprayed them, but I'd imagine you'd see dead ants. So, that doesn't seem as likely. I think its a Neivamyrmex raid, and you wouldn't really see them as they VERY rarely come to the surface. Even in urban areas, I've seen them raiding inside my old apartment complex.

Edited by Vendayn, March 21 2015 - 6:36 PM.

[dspdrew]

There was a valley where I used to live, and the Neivamyrmex would completely wipe out every single Argentine ant in the area.

 

I hope that's true, because if it is that's hilarious.

[Vendayn]

 

There was a valley where I used to live, and the Neivamyrmex would completely wipe out every single Argentine ant in the area.

 

I hope that's true, because if it is that's hilarious.

 

It is. While the valley WAS pretty dry except by the river bed...every time I saw one of their raids, the next day all the Argentine ants were gone. Even by the river, the Argentine ants had disappeared after I saw one of the army ant raids.

 

Granted, a lot of other ants were gone too after their raids. But, there were still some Pheidole species and the occasional Solenopsis xyloni colony that would reappear a couple to a few days later. But, the Neivamyrmex would clean out pretty much all the Argentine ants lol. I actually thought it was funny too. I'd be walking and see no ants at all along the river, when days before there were tons of Argentine ants.

 

Before I moved though, the valley became mite capital of San Diego...literally every single rock (no matter how small) would have countless numbers of mites that I can't even estimate how many. And eventually (a few days before I moved when I took one last look)...EVERY ant had disappeared from the area. No Argentine ants, no nothing...just TONS and TONS (trillions, literally) of mites everywhere. The spiders had disappeared, termites had disappeared...everything...just lots of mites.

 

Definitely not making it up. The Neivamyrmex REALLY did wipe out all the Argentine ants. I figured its because Argentine ants suck at fighting, so they got owned. And that valley really became mite capital lol...dunno how it is now, but when I went there...it was just mites all over the place. Lots of large spider mites, but, tons of tiny predator mites too.

 

(to add...the mites became a huge noticeable "problem" when San Diego started having hot summer-like, dry winters. Before that first year when San Diego skipped Winter and went straight to Summer...I never saw any mites at all. The entire area I'd never see one mite. Suddenly, the weather turned hotter (and drier) and mites bred like crazy. Dunno how it is now, but I doubt its changed from when I last looked.)

Edited by Vendayn, March 21 2015 - 7:14 PM.