16 replies to this topic

[soulsynapse]

This is going off of memory, so not 100% accurate

 

First, here:

 

 

 

Red = Pogonomyrmex Californicus

Green = Veromessor Pergandei

Orange = Pogonomyrmex Rugusos

 

Next up, here.

 

 

 

Orange = pogonomyrmex rugusos

 

You might think I'm joking. I literally saw 30+ rugusos nests out there. Here's a couple photos for reference: each white circle in the picture is a p. rugusos nest, there's ~20 in the 1st photo and ~8 in the 2nd.

 

 

 

What they look like up close:

 

 

Rugusos hate plants

 

But yeah, that part of diamond lake they are EVERYWHERE.

Edited by dspdrew, February 22 2017 - 1:40 PM.
Fixed images

[soulsynapse]

Oh yeah, also about the 1st area be careful on weekends as the local rednecks like to gather there for shotgun practice (there are shells everywhere) and dirt biking

 

The latter (constantly overturned dirt) might play a role in why the area is so popular for ants to nest there

[Martialis]

Pretty neat that ants are already coming out of hibernation.  Is California supposed to be that serene and green?!

 

 

Oh yeah, and on that last link, I got this:

 

 

You do not have permission to view this album.

 

https://plus.google....713468053528685

Edited by Martialis, February 21 2017 - 7:32 PM.

[soulsynapse]

Oh, my bad

 

[soulsynapse]

Pretty meat that ants are already coming out of hibernation.  Is California supposed to be that serene and green?!

 

 

Oh yeah, and on that last link, I got this:

 

 

You do not have permission to view this album.

 

https://plus.google....713468053528685

 

Also, no this area is pretty much dead.. we just got a TON of rain recently though (which we needed cuz we've been in drought since forever)

[soulsynapse]

I wish I could take an aerial shot, there were SO many nests

[Martialis]

I wish I could take an aerial shot, there were SO many nests

 

I'd believe you.

[SoySauce]

Did you find any queens?

[soulsynapse]

Did you find any queens?

 

One veromessor pergandei queen, likely infertile

 

I wish I'd gone to the 1st spot when it was ~85 a few weeks ago

[SoySauce]

Ok, thanks. It's going to be warm today and then the temp drops for over a week, so I'm tempted to go out hunting for a bit today.

[dspdrew]

Nice. Make sure to use the image tag when posting images. Don't just paste the URL.

 

Are you sure the ants you ID'd as Pogonomyrmex californicus aren't P. subnitidus?

[soulsynapse]

Nice. Make sure to use the image tag when posting images. Don't just paste the URL.

 

Are you sure the ants you ID'd as Pogonomyrmex californicus aren't P. subnitidus?

 

Erm.. those look awfully similar.

 

I'll be heading back out that way next week, I'll get a few for ID

[dspdrew]

It's almost certainly one or the other, and luckily with a microscope or a good magnifying glass, they're pretty easy to tell apart. Just look for the spines.

[Leo]

ayyy a nuptial flight of a small solenopsis just happened 

[SoySauce]

Where???

[dspdrew]

Don't get too excited. He's in China I think.

[SoySauce]

Lol k