74 replies to this topic

[soulsynapse]

nurbs dspdrew do you guys figure the 29 palms area had flights?

 

edit: ooh, by goffs hm okay

Edited by soulsynapse, July 18 2017 - 7:30 PM.

[soulsynapse]

Fantastic, I'm heading out tomorrow morning.

[soulsynapse]

That storm out in Goffs hasn't lost momentum coming inland crazy enough

[nurbs]

Huge storms everywhere now, Joshua Tree as well.

[soulsynapse]

I'm out here on Goffs, area is soaked, tons of activity and not a founding chamber to speak of

 

Lots of novomessor, I'm not sure what myrmecocystus look like though, they're smaller iirc. Haven't found any queens yet.

[nurbs]

I'm out here on Goffs, area is soaked, tons of activity and not a founding chamber to speak of

 

Lots of novomessor, I'm not sure what myrmecocystus look like though, they're smaller iirc. Haven't found any queens yet.

 

I'm in a Starbucks in Vancouver right now, so Internet access is limited. But yes, most honeypots are just a tad smaller than Novomessors, but M. mexicanus are much larger. About the size of a large camponotus.

 

Look for founding chambers. You're gonna to have to dig. 

Really wish I could be there. Just my luck, gone for a work trip for a week, and it friggin pours there.

[nurbs]

 

I'm out here on Goffs, area is soaked, tons of activity and not a founding chamber to speak of

 

Lots of novomessor, I'm not sure what myrmecocystus look like though, they're smaller iirc. Haven't found any queens yet.

 

I'm in a Starbucks in Vancouver right now, so Internet access is limited. But yes, most honeypots are just a tad smaller than Novomessors, but M. mexicanus are much larger. About the size of a large camponotus.

 

Look for founding chambers. You're gonna to have to dig. 

Really wish I could be there. Just my luck, gone for a work trip for a week, and it friggin pours there.

 

 

Actually, come to think of it, they won't fly til morning.

[soulsynapse]

 

 

I'm out here on Goffs, area is soaked, tons of activity and not a founding chamber to speak of

 

Lots of novomessor, I'm not sure what myrmecocystus look like though, they're smaller iirc. Haven't found any queens yet.

 

I'm in a Starbucks in Vancouver right now, so Internet access is limited. But yes, most honeypots are just a tad smaller than Novomessors, but M. mexicanus are much larger. About the size of a large camponotus.

 

Look for founding chambers. You're gonna to have to dig. 

Really wish I could be there. Just my luck, gone for a work trip for a week, and it friggin pours there.

 

 

Actually, come to think of it, they won't fly til morning.

 

 

Okay thanks I was pulling my hair out here

 

Found 5 rugusos queens, but I don't really want rugosus queens so I let two go. Was planning on making this a 2 day trip anyway. Haven't really seen myrmecocystus but again I don't know what to look for. Saw an acromyrmex colony on the way up, that was fun.

[nurbs]

 

 

 

I'm out here on Goffs, area is soaked, tons of activity and not a founding chamber to speak of

 

Lots of novomessor, I'm not sure what myrmecocystus look like though, they're smaller iirc. Haven't found any queens yet.

 

I'm in a Starbucks in Vancouver right now, so Internet access is limited. But yes, most honeypots are just a tad smaller than Novomessors, but M. mexicanus are much larger. About the size of a large camponotus.

 

Look for founding chambers. You're gonna to have to dig. 

Really wish I could be there. Just my luck, gone for a work trip for a week, and it friggin pours there.

 

 

Actually, come to think of it, they won't fly til morning.

 

 

Okay thanks I was pulling my hair out here

 

Found 5 rugusos queens, but I don't really want rugosus queens so I let two go. Was planning on making this a 2 day trip anyway. Haven't really seen myrmecocystus but again I don't know what to look for. Saw an acromyrmex colony on the way up, that was fun.

 

 

Dig a hole, if it is only soaked a few inches, they may not fly. If it's 8 inches or more, they will fly for sure.

[nurbs]

Yeah, not a fan of Rugosus either. Only collected a few from the last trip at Nipton, but grabbed a ton of N. cockerelli.

 

Think I'm going to miss the prime time for Mexicanus near Joshua Tree this week since I won't be back til Sunday. They should be flying there tomorrow or the next day. Also check 29 palms. The radar had tons of rains there too. We found lots of Mexicanus there two years ago.

[soulsynapse]

7 to 8. Guess I'll find out in the morning.

[soulsynapse]

Net is pretty spotty atm.. South Joshua tree entrance? Cottonwood springs?

[nurbs]

7 to 8. Guess I'll find out in the morning.

 

You may get Navajos and Mimicus from that depth. Drew mentioned he had to dig up to 12 inch for Mexicanus. Said he only found about half a dozen of them.

Edited by nurbs, July 19 2017 - 4:11 PM.

[soulsynapse]

I was like damn 12 feet Drew is hardcore af

[Scrixx]

Yeah, not a fan of Rugosus either. Only collected a few from the last trip at Nipton, but grabbed a ton of N. cockerelli.

 

Think I'm going to miss the prime time for Mexicanus near Joshua Tree this week since I won't be back til Sunday. They should be flying there tomorrow or the next day. Also check 29 palms. The radar had tons of rains there too. We found lots of Mexicanus there two years ago.

 

Could you point us to where some Mexicanus are located in Joshua Tree? 

 

I was at 29 Palms today. Got there at 5 and Pheidole were flying already. There were Forelius and an unIDed species that looks similar to Pogonomyrmex just a bit smaller. Only 2 inches of rain and it was drying up by 8 AM already. 

[nurbs]

 

Yeah, not a fan of Rugosus either. Only collected a few from the last trip at Nipton, but grabbed a ton of N. cockerelli.

 

Think I'm going to miss the prime time for Mexicanus near Joshua Tree this week since I won't be back til Sunday. They should be flying there tomorrow or the next day. Also check 29 palms. The radar had tons of rains there too. We found lots of Mexicanus there two years ago.

 

Could you point us to where some Mexicanus are located in Joshua Tree? 

 

I was at 29 Palms today. Got there at 5 and Pheidole were flying already. There were Forelius and an unIDed species that looks similar to Pogonomyrmex just a bit smaller. Only 2 inches of rain and it was drying up by 8 AM already. 

 

 

I actually have never gone into the park to dig up ants. Just outside of it. Probably best that way. You don't want park rangers asking what you're doing.

 

Both the southern and northern entrance have Mexicanus. You didn't see them because the ground wasn't wet enough. But if you look at night with a headlamp, you will notice they open up their nests and forage well into the morning. 

[nurbs]

One thing I have noticed is that there are dominant species within a certain area, and it has been confirmed with Drew as well. If you see an area with tons of Rugosus, you will most likely not find a lot of honeypots, and vice versa.

[soulsynapse]

This is very true in my experience as well, but doesn't bode well for tomorrow morning

[soulsynapse]

Guess I jumped the gun today, fooey.

[nurbs]

Are you staying overnight?