53 replies to this topic

[Antcatcherpro3]

ok  lol. To bad I didn't find a mated queen.

[BugFinder]

I want to purchase Camponotus sansabeanus this year, and I want to collect Linepithema humile this year.

[Ferox_Formicae]

How's everyone doing with their lists? I've actually got some updates to add to mine for this season, and some that I've finished! Here it is:

 

• Aphaenogaster treatae

• Camponotus socius

• Neivamyrmex spp.

• Formica rufa-group spp.

• Sample in the mountains during the warmer months

• Make at least 2 new state records (2/2)

• *Find a new species(?)

• Find at least 15 lifer species (8/15)

• Properly sample a sandhill habitat

• Discothyrea testacea

• Strumigenys angulata

• Strumigenys rogeri

• Strumigenys talpa

• **Find that Polyergus longicornis nest

 

*Not as far fetched as it may seem (and no, not in an AntsCanada way). Last year, I actually came pretty close. I found a Strumigenys gyne that had even the experts like Doug Booher stumped, as not only had the species never been recorded from SC before, but the species was parasitic on S. louisianae, which was new behavior, as previously, nothing was known to parasitize louisianae. After some research and lots of microscopy, the ant turned out to be Strumigenys margaritae, which I had long suspected to live in the state, as it exists in bordering states. After doing some more collections of S. louisianae, I found that around 1/10 of them had margaritae living amongst them. So yeah, S. margaritae is a temporary nest parasite! I sometimes do suspect these could be a new species however, just a very cryptic one (not cryptobiotic--though they are--cryptic, meaning the species is in a complex with other, closely related species and is difficult to distinguish), as given how common margaritae are in the nests of louisianae, it seems unlikely to me that no one else has noticed margaritae is socially parasitic. I also do suspect that these margaritae are parasitic on other species back in their native territories of Central and South America. The

reason they're parasitic on louisianae even though margaritae is exotic is that louisianae exists back in their native range as well. Anyways though, I think I may stand a chance of discovering a new species sometime soon, as not only did this whole thing happen, but also I am going to be doing tons of sampling throughout the year for my paper on the ants of South Carolina.

 

**Yes, I found Polyergus last season. It was a single worker during early summer. She had probably gotten separated during a raid, but now I want to find the colony. They apparently raid Formica dolosa, so I've got to keep an eye out for dolosa foragers in that region, maybe lure them out with some baits.

Edited by Ferox_Formicae, March 25 2021 - 10:49 AM.

[Manitobant]

How's everyone doing with their lists? I've actually got some updates to add to mine for this season, and some that I've finished! Here it is:

• Aphaenogaster treatae
• Camponotus socius
• Neivamyrmex spp.
• Formica rufa-group spp.
• Sample in the mountains during the warmer months
• Make at least 2 new state records (2/2)
• *Find a new species(?)
• Find at least 15 lifer species (8/15)
• Properly sample a sandhill habitat
• Discothyrea testacea
• Strumigenys angulata
• Strumigenys rogeri
• Strumigenys talpa
• **Find that Polyergus longicornis nest

*Not as far fetched as it may seem (and no, not in an AntsCanada way). Last year, I actually came pretty close. I found a Strumigenys gyne that had even the experts like Doug Booher stumped, as not only had the species never been recorded from SC before, but the species was parasitic on S. louisianae, which was new behavior, as previously, nothing was known to parasitize louisianae. After some research and lots of microscopy, the ant turned out to be Strumigenys margaritae, which I had long suspected to live in the state, as it exists in bordering states. After doing some more collections of S. louisianae, I found that around 1/10 of them had margaritae living amongst them. So yeah, S. margaritae is a temporary nest parasite! I sometimes do suspect these could be a new species however, just a very cryptic one (not cryptobiotic--though they are--cryptic, meaning the species is in a complex with other, closely related species and is difficult to distinguish), as given how common margaritae are in the nests of louisianae, it seems unlikely to me that no one else has noticed margaritae is socially parasitic. I also do suspect that these margaritae are parasitic on other species back in their native territories of Central and South America. The
reason they're parasitic on louisianae even though margaritae is exotic is that louisianae exists back in their native range as well. Anyways though, I think I may stand a chance of discovering a new species sometime soon, as not only did this whole thing happen, but also I am going to be doing tons of sampling throughout the year for my paper on the ants of South Carolina.

**Yes, I found Polyergus last season. It was a single worker during early summer. She had probably gotten separated during a raid, but now I want to find the colony. They apparently raid Formica dolosa, so I've got to keep an eye out for dolosa foragers in that region, maybe lure them out with some baits.

my technique for finding polyergus is to take a single scoop with a small garden shovel/spade out of formica mounds, and if you see the red workers, its polyergus. You may find it useful, and it works great for me.

Edited by Manitobant, March 25 2021 - 11:43 AM.

[Ferox_Formicae]

 

How's everyone doing with their lists? I've actually got some updates to add to mine for this season, and some that I've finished! Here it is:
 

• Aphaenogaster treatae
• Camponotus socius
• Neivamyrmex spp.
• Formica rufa-group spp.
• Sample in the mountains during the warmer months
• Make at least 2 new state records (2/2)
• *Find a new species(?)
• Find at least 15 lifer species (8/15)
• Properly sample a sandhill habitat
• Discothyrea testacea
• Strumigenys angulata
• Strumigenys rogeri
• Strumigenys talpa
• **Find that Polyergus longicornis nest

*Not as far fetched as it may seem (and no, not in an AntsCanada way). Last year, I actually came pretty close. I found a Strumigenys gyne that had even the experts like Doug Booher stumped, as not only had the species never been recorded from SC before, but the species was parasitic on S. louisianae, which was new behavior, as previously, nothing was known to parasitize louisianae. After some research and lots of microscopy, the ant turned out to be Strumigenys margaritae, which I had long suspected to live in the state, as it exists in bordering states. After doing some more collections of S. louisianae, I found that around 1/10 of them had margaritae living amongst them. So yeah, S. margaritae is a temporary nest parasite! I sometimes do suspect these could be a new species however, just a very cryptic one (not cryptobiotic--though they are--cryptic, meaning the species is in a complex with other, closely related species and is difficult to distinguish), as given how common margaritae are in the nests of louisianae, it seems unlikely to me that no one else has noticed margaritae is socially parasitic. I also do suspect that these margaritae are parasitic on other species back in their native territories of Central and South America. The
reason they're parasitic on louisianae even though margaritae is exotic is that louisianae exists back in their native range as well. Anyways though, I think I may stand a chance of discovering a new species sometime soon, as not only did this whole thing happen, but also I am going to be doing tons of sampling throughout the year for my paper on the ants of South Carolina.

**Yes, I found Polyergus last season. It was a single worker during early summer. She had probably gotten separated during a raid, but now I want to find the colony. They apparently raid Formica dolosa, so I've got to keep an eye out for dolosa foragers in that region, maybe lure them out with some baits.

my technique for finding polyergus is to take a single scoop with a small garden shovel/spade out of formica mounds, and if you see the red workers, its polyergus. You may find it useful, and it works great for me.

 

That may work well for Formica species with large, highly conspicuous mounds, but it won't work here. Formica dolosa makes fairly small mounds (for a Formica), and when they're parasitized by Polyergus longicornis, the mounds present are even smaller, if not nonexistent. My best bet is probably to locate all Formica dolosa colonies in the area. I've found one so far, but it consists of only dolosa. I will likely try baiting for dolosa around where I found the Polyergus worker and see what becomes of that. With luck, I'll be able to follow a worker back to its nest, which hopefully consists of both F. dolosa and P. longicornis. If that doesn't work, then I'll have to go out at around 4:30 or 5 every afternoon during the months of June-August to wait and see if I can encounter a raid, which I'd do anyways if I do find the colony this spring, because who wouldn't want to see a Polyergus raid?

[AntsVlaamsBrabant]

Realistic ones:Camponotus Herculeanus (or just any Camponotus species(havent exactly had the best luck in the past catching them)), Formca Fusca and Tetramorium Caespitum

Unrealsitic ones:Ponera Coarctata, Plagiolepis cf., Solenopsis Fugax and Lasius Citrinus so I can try starting a colony as a social parasite

[Kaelwizard]

My list:

 

Temnothorax species hosting T. minutissimus (Doubt I will ever find it, but this is my #1 goal)

 

Any Aphaenogaster sp. (Guaranteed to find)

 

Ponera pennsylvanicus (Guaranteed to find)

[AntsVlaamsBrabant]

My list:

 

Temnothorax species hosting T. minutissimus (Doubt I will ever find it, but this is my #1 goal)

 

Any Aphaenogaster sp. (Guaranteed to find)

 

Ponera pennsylvanicus (Guaranteed to find)

Just go through some dead logs in the woods and you should be able to find some temnothorax ants

[Antcatcherpro3]

I am hoping to catch pheidole pilifera, nylanderia, camponotus, formica, lots of different types of lasius, crematogaster and prenopilis. The prenopilis nuptial flights for this year is about to end. Basically all the speices in my area I want to catch. I want a diverse range of ants this year.

One down!! I caught 6 Prenolepis queens, when they had a big nuptial flight a few days ago. Now I just need to find pheidole, camponotus, formica, lasius, and crematogaster.

And nylanderia.

[Antcatcherpro3]

Camponotus should be flying starting april to june. Right?

or sometime around that.

[Kaelwizard]

 

My list:

 

Temnothorax species hosting T. minutissimus (Doubt I will ever find it, but this is my #1 goal)

 

Any Aphaenogaster sp. (Guaranteed to find)

 

Ponera pennsylvanicus (Guaranteed to find)

Just go through some dead logs in the woods and you should be able to find some temnothorax ants

 

I often find them in twigs or acorns, not logs. They generally prefer really tight spaces. The issue is finding a colony that is hosting T. minutissimus as I have never found that before.

Camponotus should be flying starting april to june. Right?

or sometime around that.

[Antcatcherpro3]

k thanks. I will be looking for some queens. They are easy to spot because of their size.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Camponotus should be flying starting april to june. Right?

or sometime around that.

Depends on where you live. Here in SC, they started flying about 2 weeks ago!

[MinigunL5]

There are many species I want, pallidefulva group Formica, Monomorium, Crematogaster, etc. But the main species I want are Camponotus americanus and Pheidole pilifera. I have Camponotus americanus in my yard and I'm searching for a place near me with Pheidole. If I don't find one ik a place with Pheidole that's only like 20 minutes away.