9 replies to this topic

[jimbodw07]

Species: Pogonomyrmex californicus (bi-color)

Date: May 25th, 2014

Location: 170th street and Palmdale blvd, Palmdale CA (High Desert).

                -Queens were found and collected from a large dry wash that consisted of dry clay and sand.

Conditions: A few days ago, a large thunderstorm formed and dumped copious amounts of rain in Palmdale. The storms moved        south, to south east toward the city of Llano just before the San Bernardino county line. There were isolated thunderstorms in the Phelan and el Mirage areas as well.

 

Image 1 (Map)

 Image 2 (Surrounding habitat)

[jimbodw07]

Image 3 (Founding Chamber)

Image 4 (Founding Chamber)

Video

[Cole]

Looks like there was a mating flight here in Bakersfield as well. I captured 5 queens, all of them were wandering around in and out of their nests. I captured video of one of them digging their founding chamber and then I saw another winged queen scurrying nearby, I managed to capture video of her removing her wings.

 

 

 

 

In this video you get to witness my incredible camera skills.

Edited by Cole, May 26 2014 - 11:09 AM.

[Crystals]

Boy, can she move.  She was making sure you had to work to film her.    Maybe she is camera shy.

[Cole]

Yeah she's quick, but mostly I just stink at video taping things.

[dspdrew]

@ jimbodw07

 

That's some nice video you got. Didn't even have me and Bryan yip yapping in the background--very good.

[Cole]

His video puts mine to shame lol.

[dspdrew]

Haha, mine too.

[jimbodw07]

Haha thanks. I have some pretty shaky hands when it comes to hand holding a camera. Either way drew, you've got some nice photos of the founding chambers. 

@ Cole. Those ants movevery quickly when digging their chambers. I don't blame you for the shaky hands :-)

[LAnt]

@jimbod How many queens did you take?