Due to the recent flights in Southern California, I decided I'd take a trip out into the desert to look for some queens and/or founding chambers. I left this morning around 6:30 A.M., grabbed some breakfast, and made my way towards the White Tanks mountain range west of Phoenix. I got out there around 7:15 A.M. and started looking around.
Nothing. Not a single queen or founding chamber. I think the dryness in Arizona means I am probably going to have to wait until the next rainfall before I'll see much.
I did get some photos of established colonies while I was there though. Sorry for the poor quality; I can't see my phone's screen while trying to take these. I got photos of 2 different species, and I spotted 3, but left my phone in my vehicle the first time out. The third unphotographed colony was some species of Pheidole I believe.
EDIT: I just realized that with the way these images are embedded, you won't be able to zoom in fully to see the details. Not sure how to fix that. I guess if you just click on the photo, then add .jpg to the end of the URL it will give you the full image.
The area I was searching. About a mile from the White Tanks park. I chose this area because it's state trust land.
These were very interesting. I found two separate colonies of these. Their gasters are quite large, but seem to vary in size between the workers. Any idea what they are? Better photo of these below.
Closer photo.
This is a pretty poor photo. It doesn't look like there is anything there, but if you zoom in you can see some large black ants. I believe these were Pogonomyrmex rugosus, but now looking at the photos I'm not sure. It could just be the poor quality photo confusing me. Second photo below.
Another poor quality photo.
These two (on the piece of tile, top center) were from a different colony. These guys seemed highly polymorphic, with no distinct castes.
And this was the black ants nest entrance. Lots of seed chaff around the entire edge.
Another nest entrance a few feet away, with more seed chaff.
Edited by Herdo, May 21 2017 - 8:26 AM.
