20 replies to this topic

[Vern530]

what are the most unique or interesting species and  to collect in California and what makes them so unique .still pretty new to this and looking for species to focus on this season to catch during flight.not just my area looking for all of California

[TennesseeAnts]

I don't know about any unique species, but I would go to the desert with some experienced antkeepers from Cali and find ants like Pogonomyrmex, Novomessor and Acromyrmex.

[Vern530]

i actually have those near my area but was planning a summer desert trip for honey pots and leaf cutters but my wife is having a baby then

[FSTP]

Its fun to think about all the unique species that are in california like the leaf cutters and honey pots. But my recomendation would be to get a good understanding of the ants local to your area of california. Like when they fly and what is common, what founding chambers look like. It will help develope your eyes and give you a better understanding of general ant behaviour. That way when you do plan your trips to socal they will be more fun and you'll likely end up getting more. 

[Vern530]

I agree.I've identified most the colony’s I’m interested in my area and there locations and even most there flights .(got a big area with lots of pogonomyrmex subdentatus colony’s and even caught queens in two flights) so my local knowledge is pretty good and have a fellow ant keeper about 45 mins away that is a good resource for info .just somewhat trying to plan out the season and some trips farther away to get some unique species worthy of taking a day or two trip .so far I’ve plotted on several pogonomyrmex sp’s ,some false honey pots,and a few others but looking for the unique species like parasitic types or other cool ones that are unique I might not know about

[ponerinecat]

Heres one you'll never find. Proceratium californicum. (If you do find it, I have nothing to say.)

[Vern530]

what is unique about it???or is it just rare?

[AntsDakota]

I think it's just rare. Although Proceratium in general look pretty cool. 

[Vern530]

found it on ant web there is some locations within an hour drive of where i live...maybe ill add that to my to do list lol

[TennesseeAnts]

found it on ant web there is some locations within an hour drive of where i live...maybe ill add that to my to do list lol

You totally should. Their diet is a bit tricky though. You'll need Collembola springtails, spider eggs, earwig eggs and possibly fruit flies. They require pretty high humidity and die within hours if not giving ample humidity. My queen sadly died because I didn't give her water quick enough.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, January 9 2020 - 3:28 PM.

[Vern530]

just searched them om google definitely   an awesome looking ant

ya I'm after them for sure.are they bigger like Pogonomyrmex or smaller?

[TennesseeAnts]

Smaller. Queens of Proceratium are usually around 5-6 millimeters.

[ponerinecat]

small, cryptic ants, extremely prone to death, very specialized diet, extremely rare, and hard to notice.

[Vern530]

any one know any nuptial flight info on them (Proceratium californicum)

[TennesseeAnts]

I do not. I found my queen after her flight in August. She was running around in an open area in the woods with high clay content soil, if that helps.

[ponerinecat]

any one know any nuptial flight info on them (Proceratium californicum)

They're so rare no nuptial info is known. only two queens have been collected(to my knowledge) and no pictures of alates are found online.

[Vern530]

Sounds like the challenge I’m looking for

[Vendayn]

Pseudomyrmex  apache

 

Never seen them in person, but they are most unique looking ant in California. And one of the most unique genus overall in the world imo. They look so neat.

Edited by Vendayn, January 12 2020 - 4:24 PM.

[ponerinecat]

Pseudomyrmex  apache

 

Never seen them in person, but they are most unique looking ant in California. And one of the most unique genus overall in the world imo. They look so neat.

I've seen em and kept a fragment colony. may sell some if I get lucky next year. Doubt I'll get that many if at all though.

[Vern530]

Do you know when they fly like time of year and temps by chance?