10 replies to this topic

[Ricardo]

I'm pretty sure they hibernate. In summer I saw around 20 entrances to what seemed a super colony. It formed a circle around the park. I know they are polygenus but that must have been a very big colony to cover the park. I feed it a bowl of darkling beetles every summer. Its around 3-5 year old is what's weird. Yesterday (Sunday) It was raining and I found no queens even though I searched morning to 11:00 pm, with a big brake ofcourse. I noticed they didn't fly last year as I play every sunday. You guys have idea of when they will fly? or might they inbreed?. Thanks and have a great day. Hopefully I don't sound stupid😆.

[Kevin]

http://www.formicult...ngmating-chart/

[Alabama Anter]

Also californicus***

[Vendayn]

Pogonomyrmex californicus (like many Pogonomyrmex) are optional to hibernate. The colonies out in the Southern California desert (Salton Sea/Palm Springs area) are active year round. A few colonies out by my Grandparents area, are active even at 50-55 degree weather with a super cold windchill and a mostly cloudy day.

[LC3]

Pogonomyrmex californicus aren't polygynous, and strictly have one entry hole per nest. The largest nests average around 2000+ workers.

[Vendayn]

Pogonomyrmex californicus aren't polygynous, and strictly have one entry hole per nest. The largest nests average around 2000+ workers.

They are dead now. But, the Pogonomyrmex (not 100% sure what species) that I could get to locally, acted all friendly with each other. They built up a bunch of irrigation and new apartments, so Argentine ants will have killed them off or will very soon. A ton more Argentine ants where they live.

 

But, I could take workers from one colony. Walk about 70 or so feet away (with no possible connection, colonies were completely separated by concrete) and the workers would be friendly with each other. The sand only goes down a few inches, so it was very easy to get them. Its built on top of a concrete drainage system, that allows a river to flow through during the rains. They used dump trucks to pile sand on top of the concrete, but it isn't deep at all.

 

In fact, I kept a bunch and at one time had quite a few queens living with each other. I got them when they had their mating flight, and put a bunch of workers with them. Some of the queens got kicked out, but out of 10 total queens, 6 stayed in the colony. Though I thought we were moving, so gave them to my friend down in San Diego. Though they died on him because Argentine ants came in (billions of them where he lives), but he said during the entire month he had them, they still always had 6 queens.

 

Maybe not Pogonomyrmex californicus, but they had an interconnected colony or were at very least, very accepting of each other.

 

Too bad they are gone or will be gone soon. Maybe I should go check them and see if I can't get any, before the Argentine ants solidify their holding of the area. I've just assumed they died by now.

Edited by Vendayn, January 2 2017 - 4:03 PM.

[Vendayn]

To add. The colonies were all very small, biggest one had around 500-800 workers. They barely had room to dig, got flooded in the rain (any big rain, they'd pile all the brood on the surface) and food supply around them was very limited. I'm surprised they kept living as long as they did, since the area is pretty bad for any ant. Literally, 6 inches is deep as the sand went, shallow in the other parts.

Edited by Vendayn, January 2 2017 - 4:13 PM.

[gcsnelling]

Pogonomyrmex californicus aren't polygynous, and strictly have one entry hole per nest. The largest nests average around 2000+ workers.

 They absolutely can have multiple nest entrances, it is very common.

[dspdrew]

There's no way they are going to fly in 59 degree weather. If you want to catch them flying check the nests around May and June late in the morning when it gets warm and the sun is actually shining, as opposed to the usual overcast during that time of year.

[Vendayn]

There's no way they are going to fly in 59 degree weather. If you want to catch them flying check the nests around May and June late in the morning when it gets warm and the sun is actually shining, as opposed to the usual overcast during that time of year.

Actually. I found a single female Pogonomyrmex californicus queen at what felt like 30 degree temp with the wind chill. It was in March I believe. Not sure what actual temperature was, but it was incredibly cold and very windy. The sun came out for literally 5 minutes, saw the queen and she gave me the best Pogonomyrmex californicus colony I ever had.

 

Maybe she came from another colony or something that died or got raided. Not sure. She was just crawling on the road without wings, was only one around.

[Ricardo]

Thank you all for info!!!