8 replies to this topic

[Foogoo]

It appears that some people are still finding flights at the time of the year so I'm hoping I can catch something before having to wait until spring. Especially with the rain we got last week and reports of it warming up in a few days, maybe I can get lucky?

 

The only problem is I live in a suburban neighborhood and don't get home until 6pm when it's already dark. Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do? UV light perhaps? Wander around aimlessly? 

[Crystals]

UV light might work.

 

Other than that, you could try turning over stones and see if you can find a founding queen or small colony.  I always have good luck turning over stepping stones or ornaments in gardens.

On the weekend, you could try taking a hammer and pulling apart a few logs.  Or popping open some dead twigs, or checking out fallen acorns under leaf litter.

[Gregory2455]

Acorns have Temnothorax.

[dspdrew]

UV light might work.

 

Other than that, you could try turning over stones and see if you can find a founding queen or small colony.  I always have good luck turning over stepping stones or ornaments in gardens.

On the weekend, you could try taking a hammer and pulling apart a few logs.  Or popping open some dead twigs, or checking out fallen acorns under leaf litter.

Haha, you're forgetting he's in Southern California where nothing lives under rocks.

 

I find night time the easiest time to find queens, because they're easier to see in a flashlight beam than daylight, I don't know why. Black lights can catch quite a bit when nuptial flights are taking place at night. In the city though I highly doubt you're going to find anything wandering around, or on a black light.

[Gregory2455]

A pool is the greatest urban anting tool. All my Crematogaster, Dorymyrmex insanus, and Nylanderia are out of a pool.

[Crystals]

Haha, you're forgetting he's in Southern California where nothing lives under rocks.

 

He doesn't have his location posted on his profile, and I often forget where everyone lives. Although by this point I am beginning to wonder if half of our members are from California....

 

I have never been to California, for all I know there might be a well watered garden or a park with some dense forest nearby.  Maybe someone further north will tumble across this post and it will help.

[Gregory2455]

I think there are a few Camponotus species here that nest under rocks, also, I most commonly find Solenopsis molesta colonies under rocks.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, I guess what I meant is even though some species do nest under rocks, you still don't see it very often in most places in So Cal. The only exception is in the high elevation mountains, where lots of ants live under rocks. Up there it's very much like where Crystal lives.

[AntsAreUs]

If you get time looks for some nests, just look everywhere you can of course that's not going to bother other people. Then wait for their nuptial flight and there you go!