112 replies to this topic

[JenC]

No species that fly during noon are having nuptial fights yet. You need to wait a few months. Try to pick a species you want to find so you can go anting during their nuptial time. Anting randomly is based on slim luck.

Edited by JenC, March 21 2020 - 4:51 PM.

[M_Ants]

I literally want to find anything. Is their a time or place you suggest for a particular species? I know that some species are flying in March because the charts in the forum say so. Is their any way to be more specific about when you go anting. It feels like random luck to me but I'm inexperienced and need advice on how to improve my chances. Thanks to anyone who replies:)

[zantezaint]

It's mostly luck in March for San Diegans, but nup flights should be more towards June. I only found 1 queen in one of the 2 hour hikes, and none for the other 4 hikes 2 weeks ago. The key to getting lucky is consistency and persistence.

[M_Ants]

Their were harvester ants getting ready to fly today. If I went back tonight would I find any or would they fly later on. Also do ants every get ready to fly and decide not to?

[AntsDakota]

Also do ants every get ready to fly and decide not to?

Yes. That is natural.

[M_Ants]

so should i not go/false alarm?

[AntsDakota]

If it's not too far away or inconvenient, I would still check.

[zantezaint]

Today or tomorrow looks good for nup flights.

[Am3ricanBanana]

Just went to some spots in Anza Borrego today and found didly squat! I was hoping for some Veromessor  but no luck. Then I headed over to Rancho Cuyamaca and found this little cutie. I have no idea what she is but at least its something. It was 74F in the desert and 62F where I found this queen.

 

[anttics]

Well same here in San Fernando valley. 65 degrees. Soil is wet. Yet not a single and in sight.

[NickAnter]

I'm not in San Diego, but here in Huntington Beach, I found no queens at my blacklight. Tonight looks better though, hoping for some clarithorax, as I have found a male before, and there is a record on antmaps near my house. Good luck to you all!

Edited by NickAnter, April 15 2020 - 10:16 AM.

[Am3ricanBanana]

For those of you in SD, do you know what Camponotus species we have here? And if so, where you have found them? 

[Ants-Irvine]

Hi, I'm not in SD but in Irvine, this is my first nuptial flight season and was hoping to catch hopefully Camponotus, however i really don't know where to go looking. Any tips would be appreciated

[M_Ants]

Me too! Already got a Ants Canada nest for if I get some. Need advice as well.

Edited by M_Ants, April 15 2020 - 2:29 PM.

[NickAnter]

Well, most have flown, but you could always try black-lighting in your backyard. You probably won't get anything now, but you never know. I found a Camponotus male in my pool, so I know they are here somewhere...... In June and July, you can get tons of Solenopsis molesta, Brachymyrmex patagonicus, and in the morning Pheidole navigans, the latter just walking around in the morning. The former being on a blacklight. You might also be able to find Nylanderia on a blacklight, or just walking around.

[M_Ants]

All the camponotus already flew!? I thought they flew in May?

[M_Ants]

Would back-lighting work in the city? Doesn't seem to be ants anywhere near here.

[NickAnter]

I never said all have flown, but most Camps have flown. C. fragilis will fly in the summer, when things will have likely opened up a bit. You can find those in Trabuco Canyon and the desert on blacklights.

 

Black-Lighting can work in the city. I live in the suburbs of HB, and I find tons of cool ants, like Hypoponera in my pool, Strumigenys in my pool(once), Monomorium minimum in my pool, Solenopsis molesta, Brachymyrmex patagonicus, and Solenopsis xyloni on blacklights. I have found wandering around in the morning: Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pheidole navigans, and Nylanderia vividula(which can also be found on blacklights.)

 

Now, not all areas will have this diversity, I happen to have a lot of open spaces near me, so therefore, I get many of those ants. I have even found Formica perpilosa in a suburban area near a body of brackish water. You won't see a lot of the ants you find on blacklights, as B. patagonicus are tiny, and S. molesta are subterranean, and S. xyloni are only found in open, dry areas. The Hypoponera are also mostly subterranean and hard to spot as well.

[M_Ants]

Found plenty of Brachymyrmex before but that's all. Bummed I missed most of the Camps. I live further south so not many places to search without a drive. And there is the quarantine.   

[Am3ricanBanana]

Brachymyrmex patagonicus getting ready to fly sometime in the next few weeks. I had a tarp in my backyard and when I moved it around I discovered a little satellite nest of the colony that inhabits my backyard with brood and alates in it. Too small of a species for me to want to keep but still pretty cool.