16 replies to this topic

[SoySauce]

Hi everyone, I caught this queen in its founding chamber up in the Cleveland National Forest in a woodier area. I thought it was the black honeypot (m. mimicus?) at first but it's noticeably smaller at 8mm. It was pretty hot outside at at around 90 degrees. Thank you in advance for an ID.

Edited by SoySauce, March 15 2017 - 7:04 AM.

[VoidElecent]

Myrmecocystus?

Edited by VoidElecent, March 15 2017 - 12:51 PM.

[Batspiderfish]

This is another Myrmecocystus queen, although I couldn't say which species.

[thosaka]

I am curious to know which one it is too.

[SoySauce]

The plot thickens...

[dspdrew]

Myrmecocystus testaceus. These have the little pale yellow workers that one of you guys saw up there.

[SoySauce]

Wow! Thank you Drew for the ID. That's crazy, 3 different type of honeypotsliving up there together. The harverester ants were the predominant ants up there though. When do they fly Drew? Id love to have one or two of those ants too.

[dspdrew]

Wow! Thank you Drew for the ID. That's crazy, 3 different type of honeypotsliving up there together. The harverester ants were the predominant ants up there though. When do they fly Drew? Id love to have one or two of those ants too.

 

No Prob. The Pogonomyrmex should be flying around June.

[nurbs]

Wow! Thank you Drew for the ID. That's crazy, 3 different type of honeypotsliving up there together. The harverester ants were the predominant ants up there though. When do they fly Drew? Id love to have one or two of those ants too.

 

You guys are in Santa Monica, right? Used to live there, too. Lots of hiking trails near the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains. And then there's Malibu creek and Topanga Canyon. Rich and diverse with all kinds of ants. You don't need to drive too far - if I still lived near SM I would hit up Malibu Creek every week!

 

Also, Pogonomyrmex are ubiquitous here in LA, literally everywhere. So you won't need to drive far for those. 

[nurbs]

As a matter of fact, you should hit up your neck of the woods more often and report back here on what you find.

 

For example, Drew has his usual spots like Trabuco canyon and surrounding areas, and my usual stomping grounds are the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains and up hwy 39. Most of us hit up these places because they are close to home. When you start to get serious about this hobby, gas can get expensive!

Edited by nurbs, March 15 2017 - 1:58 PM.

[SoySauce]

As a matter of fact, you should hit up your neck of the woods more often and report back here on what you find.

 

For example, Drew has his usual spots like Trabuco canyon and surrounding areas, and my usual stomping grounds are the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains and up hwy 39. Most of us hit up these places because they are close to home. When you start to get serious about this hobby, gas can get expensive!

 

 

Roger that!  Yeah, I've been down to Malibu creek a couple of times, but there's a bunch of houses down there and parking is terrible.  I knew a guy there that used to dam up his portion if the creek and created a small pond which he stocked with his own rainbow trout so his son and his scout troop could fish in it.

 

Anyway, I don't mind driving long distances and exploring since I enjoy driving too.  I'm from the east coast originally and there's so much to see in California. And hiking through these foothills is amazing.  I'm eventually am going to head up the the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains and check it out up there. 

[MrPurpleB]

So many honey pots Ids.Nice find you have there. 

[nurbs]

Malibu Creek State Park, no homes there. Lots of wilderness and trails. Even a waterfall and swimming hole. They used to film the tv show MASH there.

Haven't been back in years but believe parking is $5. You can also park on the road and walk in. Might head there sometime this month.

[SoySauce]

Oooooh, ok. My son and I have gone to Will Rogers State Park a few time to look but there's way too many up there on the weekends and I feel wired digging up founding champbers with my garden handshovel. I'll definitely check it out soon tho. Thanks.

[nurbs]

 

As a matter of fact, you should hit up your neck of the woods more often and report back here on what you find.

 

For example, Drew has his usual spots like Trabuco canyon and surrounding areas, and my usual stomping grounds are the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains and up hwy 39. Most of us hit up these places because they are close to home. When you start to get serious about this hobby, gas can get expensive!

 

 I'm eventually am going to head up the the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains and check it out up there. 

 

 

I hit up the Eastern Sierras a few times a year as well. And not just for ants - it's beautiful!

 

You'll find all sorts of Formica and Camponotus. C. Modoc is very common as you go further up north. They are easy to care for and very active. You will definitely love it.

[dspdrew]

 

As a matter of fact, you should hit up your neck of the woods more often and report back here on what you find.

 

For example, Drew has his usual spots like Trabuco canyon and surrounding areas, and my usual stomping grounds are the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains and up hwy 39. Most of us hit up these places because they are close to home. When you start to get serious about this hobby, gas can get expensive!

 

 

Roger that!  Yeah, I've been down to Malibu creek a couple of times, but there's a bunch of houses down there and parking is terrible.  I knew a guy there that used to dam up his portion if the creek and created a small pond which he stocked with his own rainbow trout so his son and his scout troop could fish in it.

 

Anyway, I don't mind driving long distances and exploring since I enjoy driving too.  I'm from the east coast originally and there's so much to see in California. And hiking through these foothills is amazing.  I'm eventually am going to head up the the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains and check it out up there. 

 

 

I think you put more effort into this than I do. Never thought I would see that.

[SoySauce]

Effort? Nah. Like I said I enjoy many aspects of collecting. It's actually a great distraction from 'life'!