55 replies to this topic

[AntsDakota]

Crematogaster are no back up, son!

Here they’re precious jems.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

you mean gems?

[AntsDakota]

Yes. Gems.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

[AntsDakota]

I've never even seen a worker. Ants_Dakota just found an unmated queen, so they're around. 

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

They've ought to be abundant because of their fast growing and aggressive nature...

[ANTdrew]

I think of the Dakotas more as prairie states. Crematogaster are ants of deciduous forest edges. Lasius dominate the prairies, but maybe I’m over simplifying?

[AntsDakota]

True, but we do have many parks that are densely wooded.

[ANTdrew]

What are the dominant tree species? Are there many native vines? I want to crack this case of the missing Crematogasters.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

*Pink Panther music intensifies* 

[Temperateants]

I guess I have a place here even though my crematogaster colony is in it's founding stage 

[ANTdrew]

I observed something interesting while queen hunting other night. Some tiny Crematogaster workers (maybe minutissima?) were swarming a spot of wet bird poop. I know folks have mentioned Camponotus eating bird poop, but seems like Cremas like it, too. Maybe I’ll try feeding some to my colony?

[AntsDakota]

What are the dominant tree species? Are there many native vines? I want to crack this case of the missing Crematogasters.

In densely wooded areas, maples, ash, oaks, willows, and some evergreens are dominant. Not many vines at all. (p.s.- sorry for the late response, didn't see this before now)

[AntsDakota]

I think of the Dakotas more as prairie states. Crematogaster are ants of deciduous forest edges. Lasius dominate the prairies, but maybe I’m over simplifying?

And another thing- there are also a lot of rivers, streams, and creeks in South Dakota and surrounding states. Around those rivers, there are always dense forests, where forest-dwelling ants tend to thrive.

[Temperateants]

My crematogasters are keeping the "sawdust" from their mealworm meat excavations.

[ANTdrew]

I think of the Dakotas more as prairie states. Crematogaster are ants of deciduous forest edges. Lasius dominate the prairies, but maybe I’m over simplifying?

And another thing- there are also a lot of rivers, streams, and creeks in South Dakota and surrounding states. Around those rivers, there are always dense forests, where forest-dwelling ants tend to thrive.

Hmmm, I wonder why you wouldn’t see them more near those forest edges? I know members from WI and IL have found them. Maybe it is the lack of vines and creepers?

[CheetoLord02]

 

 

I think of the Dakotas more as prairie states. Crematogaster are ants of deciduous forest edges. Lasius dominate the prairies, but maybe I’m over simplifying?

And another thing- there are also a lot of rivers, streams, and creeks in South Dakota and surrounding states. Around those rivers, there are always dense forests, where forest-dwelling ants tend to thrive.

Hmmm, I wonder why you wouldn’t see them more near those forest edges? I know members from WI and IL have found them. Maybe it is the lack of vines and creepers?

 

It's pretty funny, now that you mention it I've found most Crematogaster at the edges of forests, and never noticed it. I never really paid much attention to the flora present in the forests themselves, but maybe I'll take that into consideration next time I look. Also, it's worth noting that C. cerasi are absolutely everywhere here, but they hide their queens in a different dimension or something. I've only found 2 fertile cerasi queens, one was along in a random stump I cut open and one was in a massive colony, she just happened to be warming up under a big rock. That was the first time I've ever seen a fertile cerasi queen in a colony. Lineolata on the other hand is terrible at hiding their queens. I've got a 3 queen colony just from a single small-ish piece of wood, and AnthonyP163 and I found a massive colony with a dozen queens living inside of an old gardening glove at Gotham Jack Pines in Wisconsin.

[ANTdrew]

Forest edges are usually very diverse habitats. The greater amount of light allows a much higher number of plant species to survive, and this in turn increasing animal diversity. I have a theory based on observations that native vines and creepers are very important sugar sources for these arboreal ants.

[FeedTheAnts]

I observed something interesting while queen hunting other night. Some tiny Crematogaster workers (maybe minutissima?) were swarming a spot of wet bird poop. I know folks have mentioned Camponotus eating bird poop, but seems like Cremas like it, too. Maybe I’ll try feeding some to my colony?

That would be interesting if they were minutissima. I can't find any records of them being in VA, but they are one of the coolest species. Can you find them again and take pics?

[ANTdrew]

I will try. I just guessed because they were like half the size of my cerasi.