I am a newer keeper and I have seen HUGE harvesters in a park near me. They are almost a 1/3 of an inch (about 7-9 mm) long. I already have two queens with nanitics and am good for this year but I want to know when they fly. What are the optimal conditions and does anyone have a colony(s) already?
I found 47 Pogonomyrmex queens in late June before a rainstorm around 6:00pm and then I came back the next morning around 7:15am and found more queens. The way to find them (that I use) is digging up their founding chambers. Usually you will see the queen go into her chamber and get a piece of sand or soil and put it on her mound, you can also catch the queen this way. But if you find a founding chamber and she doesn't come out after a while, you can try digging the chamber up with a shovel or your hands.
Edit: are the queens 7-9mm or are the workers?
Edited by AntsTx, September 4 2024 - 10:32 AM.
Currently Keeping:
Camponotus sayi x4 - Pupae Atta texana x32
Camponotus discolor x6 - Pupae Formica sp. - Larvae
Camponotus texanus - 14 workers Formica sp. - Eggs
Camponotus pennsylvanicus - 125-150 workers Pheidole sp. - 200-300 workers
Pogonomyrmex occidentalis - 50-75 workers Pheidole hyatti - 7 workers
Crematogaster spp. - 500-1000 workers Camponotus novaeboracensis - Eggs
Novomessor albisetosus - 100-125 workers Leptogenys elongata - 7-10 workers