2110 replies to this topic

[Chickalo]

I gave them a mealworm and some honey, they started eating it right away haha!  I still couldn't find the entrance to the nest but I didn't want to clear the acorns away in fear of disturbing the nest.  Hopefully this April they do nuptial flights!

Edited by Chickalo, March 26 2021 - 12:23 PM.

[Chickalo]

Just went back, and I found their nest entrance!  Turns out it's not even on the ground; it's in the tree.  From the workers eating the honey and scraping the mealworm carcass, there was a line of ant going up the tree.  It went quite a bit until it reached this bit were it looked like a branch got cut off.  On the section was a hole, and in that hole was two workers standing guard and ants going in and out!  Now I know where to look for groups of alate lol.  I think if I catch any queens I'll put the queens I catch in a mini hearth

Edited by Chickalo, March 26 2021 - 1:25 PM.

[Antcatcherpro3]

cool

[Antcatcherpro3]

All the ants in my yard are starting to come out. My lasius americanus is coming out, and I see nylanderia nanitics out and about sometimes. Camponotus came out too. I'm still waiting for the bigger colonys of nylanderia to come out, and formica. They aren't above ground yet but I bet they will soon.

[Chickalo]

If I don't find a colony, can someone give me Lasius Americanus brood and host workers when they get it (I believe it's around june-july)?

[Antcatcherpro3]

I watched some lasius americanus workers steal food (aka an apple) that I gave my local Prenolepis colonies. It hid under the apple!

[MinigunL5]

I've posted this before but I know some people haven't seen it. If you guys want to join a community for Massachusetts ant-keepers join the Ant-Keepers of Massachusetts discord server (Massachusetts people only). It's a great place to discuss nuptial flights, where to find certain species, or anything related to ants.

https://discord.gg/ENNpwBh6Ne

[Antcatcherpro3]

All my prenolepis queens died except one of them .........

[Antcatcherpro3]

notice what april 1st is tho.....

[Chickalo]

hey guys, good news and bad news

good news, whilst killing a root (don't ask) i found a preno queen

bad news, i didn't have a container

so for now she's in a kinda dirty wet container from science

i have until 12:45 til i get home

hopefully she survives, ill take photos at home

[ANTdrew]

Never leave home without at least one collection vial in your pocket.

[Chickalo]

Never leave home without at least one collection vial in your pocket.

i thought that leaving this morning but i didn't think id find a queen lmfao

also I'm getting anxious because what if she dies or somehting 

Edited by Chickalo, April 9 2021 - 7:32 AM.

[Chickalo]

YES!!!  I finished all my Spanish work, so I checked up on the preno queen and give her fresh air, and she teared off her wings!  I have a good feeling about her, once I get photos I'll make a journal for her!

[Antcatcherpro3]

All my preno queens except my quadro setup with 4 queens layed eggs!!

I'm excited for 3 of my solo queens to get workers in like a month or so.

Hope your queen gets workers to chickalo!

[Antcatcherpro3]

I am pretty sure I saw a male camponotus ant wandering around today. That means flights soon.

[Chickalo]

Maybe not, Camponotus makes alates in fall and keeps them over winter.  In Camponotus pennsylvanicus and castanus nests I found they had alates so.

Edited by Chickalo, April 28 2021 - 12:51 PM.

[Antcatcherpro3]

huh? It's not winter.

[Chickalo]

I know, but Camponotus keeps them over winter.  I believe flights start in a month or two.  This means you might find alates throughout early spring even though there are no flights.

[Antcatcherpro3]

oh ok, well hopefully we do find queens when they do fly.

[Chickalo]

How long until a queen loses her colony scent after leaving the colony?  Just wondering so if I find any queens I could take some workers and give them to the queen.  (Just read the first message and it said where we found rare species, well I found castaneus in the woods behind my towns middle school [that's where I am right now 0:]. I'm going back after school to check for queens since it was 70+ yesterday and there was some drizzle at some point)

Edited by Chickalo, May 3 2021 - 6:53 AM.