57 replies to this topic

[thosaka]

You Socal-ians are bathing yourself in ants...

While us New Englanders sit around in the snow... no ant to be seen.

When does the snow clear out for you guys over there?

Edited by Tagassi, March 14 2017 - 8:40 AM.

[Nathant2131]

 

You Socal-ians are bathing yourself in ants...

While us New Englanders sit around in the snow... no ant to be seen.

When does the snow clear out for you guys over there?

 

Depends. Usually around late March or early April but this winter was been pretty drawn out. We are getting 20 inches as I speak.

[SoySauce]

I hope you don't mind me posting here but I thought it was appropriate since you found this spot. I'm here on the trail right(it's actually an old fire road) and found 3 different species of queens so far. I found the weird yellow colored honeypot and these two:







I would guess the larger is is a little smaller than a cm, and the smaller one may be 2 or 3 mm shorter. Sorry about the bad pics but it's the best I can do on the trail. I'm seeing tons of ant mounds both newer ones and old ones. I thinks it's still too early for much ant activity. I've dug up a bunch of the new mounds and have a pretty high fail rate right now. I don't know if it's because they're abandoned or it's because they're already too deep. Or maybe they're digging more horizontally and I'm just digging downward.

Also, I've been hiking forever! Over 2 hours I guess and I'm no where near to the top of any mountain!

[thosaka]

I hope you don't mind me posting here but I thought it was appropriate since you found this spot. I'm here on the trail right(it's actually an old fire road) and found 3 different species of queens so far. I found the weird yellow colored honeypot and these two:
I would guess the larger is is a little smaller than a cm, and the smaller one may be 2 or 3 mm shorter. Sorry about the bad pics but it's the best I can do on the trail. I'm seeing tons of ant mounds both newer ones and old ones. I thinks it's still too early for much ant activity. I've dug up a bunch of the new mounds and have a pretty high fail rate right now. I don't know if it's because they're abandoned or it's because they're already too deep. Or maybe they're digging more horizontally and I'm just digging downward.
Also, I've been hiking forever! Over 2 hours I guess and I'm no where near to the top of any mountain!

That one particular all black one is huge! High five on the honeypot queens. Yeah I can't figure out why some holes were a miss either. I mean where can they go?!

[SoySauce]

How far did you hike down the trail to get to the mountain top?

[thosaka]

You Socal-ians are bathing yourself in ants...
While us New Englanders sit around in the snow... no ant to be seen.

When does the snow clear out for you guys over there?

Depends. Usually around late March or early April but this winter was been pretty drawn out. We are getting 20 inches as I speak.

Hey, pretty soon though Isn't it also a good thing that it snowed? When the ice melts, the mating flight begins? What do you think?

[SoySauce]

Yes it's a gorgeous hike tho. I just wished I brought more water and lunch

[Nathant2131]

 

 

 

You Socal-ians are bathing yourself in ants...
While us New Englanders sit around in the snow... no ant to be seen.

When does the snow clear out for you guys over there?

Depends. Usually around late March or early April but this winter was been pretty drawn out. We are getting 20 inches as I speak.

Hey, pretty soon though Isn't it also a good thing that it snowed? When the ice melts, the mating flight begins? What do you think?

 

Yeah I am jacking myself up for when they become active; One good thing about winter here is that your research can't be sidetracked by an alate you caught flying by your window 

[SoySauce]

How far did you hike down the trail to get to the mountain top?

how far did u hike?

[thosaka]

How far did you hike down the trail to get to the mountain top?

how far did u hike?

You're at Orosco Ridge?! I drove to Cleveland National Park from the south, and then parked and went down to this trail that split into two, and went up the small incline about 50 to 70 feet up and then stopped to see alot of fresh holes.

[SoySauce]

Yes I'm hire. I've hiked about 2 hours to the left from where the trail splits

[SoySauce]

Damn I hiked all the way through the trail. I guess it's time to turn back!

[thosaka]

Damn I hiked all the way through the trail. I guess it's time to turn back!

You actually went there?! Haha. Nice. Okay you start from the entrance, cross the very shallow stream, and you should see two large splits, one going left and one going right, take the left one and it goes uphill immediately. Keep going until you see a small rock or mud slide, pass that spot, and in that area 100 feet past it, you will find that yellow swarm of ants in a hole, and maybe some fresh holes, keep going past 100 feet as well for untouched holes. How do you even get internet connection there?!

Edited by Tagassi, March 14 2017 - 9:24 AM.

[thosaka]

Also remember that I dug all the fresh holes out 100 feet past the mud rock slide and it has been only 2 days so you'll have to find new holes that formed in the last 2 days and or find holes past the 100 feet mark. I didn't actually think you were going that early! Hehe.

[SoySauce]

Yeah I'm way past from where you dug holes

[thosaka]

Yeah I'm way past from where you dug holes

Got it. As soon as you pass the mud slide with a huge rock going uphill, start looking aggressively. I hope to hear some good news.

[dspdrew]

Yeah I can't figure out why some holes were a miss either. I mean where can they go?!

 
Eaten by hungry animals.
 
 

Damn I hiked all the way through the trail. I guess it's time to turn back!

Definitely looks like honeypot ant habitat.

[FSTP]

Great pictures, there's tons of habitat that looks similar to this where I am... this Thursday I'm going to go check it out.

[SoySauce]

Just witnessed my first nuptial flight!

[SoySauce]