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Pheidole Nuptial Flight Question

Started By Jonny8040 , May 19 2022 9:16 AM

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37 replies to this topic

#21 Online ANTdrew - Posted May 31 2022 - 1:49 AM

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Excellent. Pheidole should show up next month after some hot rains.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#22 Offline Jonny8040 - Posted May 31 2022 - 1:51 AM

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Excellent. Pheidole should show up next month after some hot rains.


Fingers crossed. I hope the queens I got were bred. We’ll see
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In Jesus,
Jonny

#23 Offline AntsCali098 - Posted May 31 2022 - 8:13 AM

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I haven't had any luck with blacklighting even though I have tried. What do you suggest to use? Just a white sheet?


Interested buying in ants? Feel free to check out my shop! 

Feel free to read my journals, like this one.

 

Wishlist:

Atta sp (wish they were in CA), Crematogaster cerasi, Most Pheidole species

 

 

#24 Offline AntsCali098 - Posted May 31 2022 - 8:51 AM

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Excellent. Pheidole should show up next month after some hot rains.

What if it doesn't rain at all? It probably won't here


Edited by AntsCali098, May 31 2022 - 8:51 AM.

Interested buying in ants? Feel free to check out my shop! 

Feel free to read my journals, like this one.

 

Wishlist:

Atta sp (wish they were in CA), Crematogaster cerasi, Most Pheidole species

 

 

#25 Offline Jonny8040 - Posted May 31 2022 - 9:09 AM

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I haven't had any luck with blacklighting even though I have tried. What do you suggest to use? Just a white sheet?


I had never done it until last night. It was just after dark, very hot and humid, and after a light rain. I had my blacklight shining at a slight angle toward some woods next to my house. The lamp was on top of a white sheet I spread out flat. I plan on doing it again tonight Lord willing so I’ll snap a few pictures and put on here. I’m not the expert at black lighting but apparently it worked!
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In Jesus,
Jonny

#26 Offline Jonny8040 - Posted May 31 2022 - 9:26 AM

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This was maybe my best wekend of the entire year. 7 Pheidole sp. (I think Bicarinata), 7 Camponotus Castaneus, and 1 unknown. Also yesterday I stocked up on 12 Solenopsis Richteri for nest testing.


Did you blacklight these?


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In Jesus,
Jonny

#27 Offline DarkCerebral - Posted June 2 2022 - 6:45 AM

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Are there any Pheidole flying this time of year already. I found one tonight during a light rain shower. Looks bicarinata but I thought they were later summer.

Also, I have invested in some black lights. This information will be useful to stock up on more P opportunities.

I have been coming across pheidole queens since early march. I haven’t really been looking recently, but I did see one by my door last night.

What state? People claim 6 AM is the best time for P. Floridana

 

 

MS. Alo after some review, I think I have one non P. Bicarinata but unsure what sh is. Will ID soon.


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#28 Offline DarkCerebral - Posted June 2 2022 - 8:58 PM

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I saw a few Pheidole males out today, so attempted another black light setup and stopped with 11 new queens. Hopefully they are mostly mated.


#29 Offline Tai_pan1 - Posted June 3 2022 - 4:42 AM

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Are there any Pheidole flying this time of year already. I found one tonight during a light rain shower. Looks bicarinata but I thought they were later summer.

Also, I have invested in some black lights. This information will be useful to stock up on more P opportunities.

I told you! Seems to me the further south you are, the better blacklighting works.

 

I’m jealous of the C castaneus!  I’ve been trying for over a month and all I get are males alates.  Haven’t seen a single queen and now I’m not seeing the males any longer.


#30 Offline Jonny8040 - Posted June 8 2022 - 9:42 AM

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Anybody seeing any Pheidole yet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
In Jesus,
Jonny

#31 Offline DarkCerebral - Posted June 9 2022 - 8:33 PM

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Anybody seeing any Pheidole yet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 I haven't black lighted again but did leave my sheets out. I have captured one or 2 most nights I look. I  released 10 that didn't appear mated, but am housing maybe 20 starters since this thread started. I am hoping of various species but unsure at the moment.

 

Any luck for you?


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#32 Offline Jonny8040 - Posted June 9 2022 - 8:41 PM

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Anybody seeing any Pheidole yet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I haven't black lighted again but did leave my sheets out. I have captured one or 2 most nights I look. I released 10 that didn't appear mated, but am housing maybe 20 starters since this thread started. I am hoping of various species but unsure at the moment.

Any luck for you?

That’s awesome! I hope you get lucky with those few you got! No I haven’t found any at all. Fingers crossed. Keep me posted buddy!


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In Jesus,
Jonny

#33 Online ANTdrew - Posted June 10 2022 - 1:59 AM

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Weather in Virginia (at least my area) has not been conducive to Pheidole flights. We need a lot more heat and humidity.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#34 Offline AntsCali098 - Posted June 10 2022 - 8:03 AM

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I've seen a few people already getting P.californica queens


Interested buying in ants? Feel free to check out my shop! 

Feel free to read my journals, like this one.

 

Wishlist:

Atta sp (wish they were in CA), Crematogaster cerasi, Most Pheidole species

 

 

#35 Offline lazyant - Posted June 10 2022 - 8:20 AM

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I've seen a few people already getting P.californica queens

Really? I find almost no queens if I am not near a Regional reserve (Isn't it not legal to collect in side of the reserve?)


"Loneliness and cheeseburgers are a dangerous mix." -Comic book guy 

#36 Offline AntsCali098 - Posted June 10 2022 - 8:30 AM

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In some places (like here hehe) conditions aren't just right yet. In a wildlife reserve, it is usually illegal to collect.


Interested buying in ants? Feel free to check out my shop! 

Feel free to read my journals, like this one.

 

Wishlist:

Atta sp (wish they were in CA), Crematogaster cerasi, Most Pheidole species

 

 

#37 Offline DarkCerebral - Posted June 10 2022 - 5:33 PM

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I received permission here from some of the park rangers. But I think it varies per location and laws.


#38 Offline DarkCerebral - Posted June 11 2022 - 6:18 PM

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Holy crap Batman. I had a suspicion tonight would be a good night, but there are hundreds of various P. Species while blacklighting. I cannot keep up and verify what I'm trying to catch. Limited setups remaining so trying to limit to specific species. ID section has related Post.

 

I ended up pulling around 50 queens. Trying to sort and determine what is polygynous if any, what I want, and what to let go.

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Edited by DarkCerebral, June 11 2022 - 7:36 PM.

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