15 replies to this topic

[TheGamblingAnt]

Hey guys, just curious what time of day you guys use your blacklights to catch queens ? I've never tried early morning before the sun comes up, wondering if that's when everyone catches them? I turn my black lights on at night time once the sun goes down 830pm ish, until I go to bed at 1030-11pm usually and have had really no luck at all. Early on saw a few male camponotus, then some male Formica, no queens of either. And then I did actually attract a huge nuptial flight of temnothorax that had hundreds of queens and probably at least a thousand males. But outside of that my night time luck has been non existent.. also, I live in wisconsin. Wondering if maybe I should keep my light on all night long and check for dealates running around in the morning when I wake up (usually around 7am) or wake up earlier? 7am maybe they're all gone by then?

[AntsTx]

I blacklight at 5:10am and right before the sun goes down till 10:00pm or so. In my opinion morning blacklighting is the best. You really won't be able to find dealates wondering after the flights for most species except for under rocks and logs.

[ANTdrew]

The prevalence of night flying species increases as you go south for obvious reasons. You may just not have a lot of night fliers in your area. Give pre-dawn black-lighting a try though.

[TheGamblingAnt]

Will do! Thanks guys

[TheGamblingAnt]

Woke up at 5am this morning with my blacklight running overnight and there was at least 100 tetramorium queens on the sheet. Caught 10 of them to test if they're actually fertile. Curious to see the success rate of catching queens on the sheet

[ANTdrew]

Good grief!

[Ants_Dakota]

Woke up at 5am this morning with my blacklight running overnight and there was at least 100 tetramorium queens on the sheet. Caught 10 of them to test if they're actually fertile. Curious to see the success rate of catching queens on the sheet

A Southern antkeeper I know has a 60-70% fertility rate, so I am looking forward to comparing that to your results.

[RushmoreAnts]

 

Woke up at 5am this morning with my blacklight running overnight and there was at least 100 tetramorium queens on the sheet. Caught 10 of them to test if they're actually fertile. Curious to see the success rate of catching queens on the sheet

A Southern antkeeper I know has a 60-70% fertility rate, so I am looking forward to comparing that to your results.

 

Not me with a 100% fertility rate...

[TheGamblingAnt]

I typically check my founding queens every other Friday. Checked on them last Friday so I won't have an update this week but I'll be sure to let you guys know next week! We've got some real good warm humid weather here in Wisconsin coming up the next few days so I'm hoping to catch some other species! I really want lasius. I think those small little fast lasius Niger ants are really cool.

[RushmoreAnts]

I typically check my founding queens every other Friday. Checked on them last Friday so I won't have an update this week but I'll be sure to let you guys know next week! We've got some real good warm humid weather here in Wisconsin coming up the next few days so I'm hoping to catch some other species! I really want lasius. I think those small little fast lasius Niger ants are really cool.

Tetra queens go from egg to worker in 3 weeks. Don't wait too long to check on them!

[ANTdrew]

I typically check my founding queens every other Friday. Checked on them last Friday so I won't have an update this week but I'll be sure to let you guys know next week! We've got some real good warm humid weather here in Wisconsin coming up the next few days so I'm hoping to catch some other species! I really want lasius. I think those small little fast lasius Niger ants are really cool.

Tetra queens go from egg to worker in 3 weeks. Don't wait too long to check on them!

Or 21 days if they’re on heat!

[TheGamblingAnt]

Dang 3 weeks that's insane. I have all my queens in a box that is heated with a heat pad and a thermostat. Doesn't get colder than 78 degrees, but does get warmer on days when it's really hot here. I didn't realize tetramorium went from egg to worker so quickly. I've been used to slower ones I think, been raising prenolepis imparis, which took over 2 months. And camponotus pennsylvanicus which has been pretty slow too

[TheGamblingAnt]

Here's the two blacklight setups I use. First one is in my backyard. I've got two ladders with a queen size sheet clamped to it. With another queen sheet on the ground with my blacklight on a garbage can. The other one is in my front yard just sitting on the steps to my house being held by rocks. Again blacklight sitting on a garbage can. The last several nights there has been a ton of both male and queen acorn ants on my blacklights here in WI. What kinds of set ups do you guys use for your blacklighting?

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Edited by TheGamblingAnt, July 22 2025 - 8:23 PM.

[Ants_Dakota]

Nice catch, that was the first catch on my blacklight as well! Definitely document your colonies, they look so cool with the black stripes.

[ANTdrew]

Here’s my setup. It’s a blacklight lamp bulb and blacklight string light combo.

Edited by ANTdrew, July 23 2025 - 5:18 AM.

[TheGamblingAnt]

Here’s my setup. It’s a blacklight lamp bulb and blacklight string light combo.

Ohh blacklight string lights. That's a good idea! I didn't think of that