13 replies to this topic

[Roachant]

Hi all,
It's been a while since I was here but I just want to say that yesterday at 5pm the sky started to rain Lasius queens! The temp was In the mid 30s (Celsius) so I was in my pool and they were falling all over the place, some with males still attached. I nabbed ten of them and put them in tubes so we shall see what will happen.
Just wanted to share that with you guys.
Don

[Ants4fun]

Lasius Niger aren't found in North America. What you are most likely seeing are Lasius alienus, which are flying now.

[Roachant]

Ah! Thanks, I will try to upload some pics when I get a chance.

[Herdo]

I'm a bit confused.  Do alates of a particular species fly at the same time regardless of location?  I was under the impression that alates would fly only when the conditions in their local area were optimal.

 

So while C. pennsylvanicus alates may be flying near Toronto, they probably won't be flying in Texas at that same exact time.  Is that correct, or do they somehow coordinate an earth-wide flight?

[Ants4fun]

A certain species will usually fly around the same point of year, but their are slight differences. While C. pennsylvanicus fly in Texas, it might be snowing up north, so they would fly a little later, but those of the same species usually fly around the same time.

[Gregory2455]

Lasius Niger aren't found in North America. What you are most likely seeing are Lasius alienus, which are flying now.

This is incorrect unless Antweb is completely wrong, but I do not see how with so many specimens on this map. 

https://www.antweb.o...project=calants   <-Lasius niger in North America

https://www.antweb.o...t=allantwebants  <-Lasius niger 

Edited by Gregory2455, July 14 2015 - 11:30 AM.

[Ants4fun]

I guess I should say they aren't readily found in North america, and are sparcely located as hitch hikers. Most certainly aren't found abundantly in Canada.

Edited by Ants4fun, July 14 2015 - 12:25 PM.

[Gregory2455]

I guess I should say they aren't readily found in North america, and are sparcely located as hitch hikers. Most certainly aren't found abundantly in Canada.

Sounds better.

Oh and I forgot to link these as well.

http://www.formicult...y-ca-8-28-2014/

http://www.formicult... +lasius +niger

[dspdrew]

I have a Lasius niger colony from a queen I found in Southern California.

[Herdo]

A certain species will usually fly around the same point of year, but their are slight differences. While C. pennsylvanicus fly in Texas, it might be snowing up north, so they would fly a little later, but those of the same species usually fly around the same time.

 

 

Ok, Thank you.

Edited by Herdo, July 14 2015 - 2:57 PM.

[Roachant]

By the way, I was pretty sure a nuptial flight was on because every time there is one, seagulls are seen flying in the air catching them.
It's a cool way of getting ready to find some .

[LC3]

Seagulls eat ants? I've seen sparrows catch Lasius queens up above the air (compared to their normal near ground hunting habbits) but never have I seen seagulls.

[Ants4fun]

I guess I shouldn't prematurely judge ants. The truth is, they may very well be L. niger. All we can do is guess without good pics.

[Trailandstreet]

I have a Lasius niger colony from a queen I found in Southern California.

How do they hibernate there? I think the winter in SoCal isn't nearly as cold as our autumn. And in autumn here, Lasius niger is seen still out of the nest. At least on the warmer days.