5 replies to this topic

[Foogoo]

Considering the species that tend to fly after it rains, how do they know it rained? If during mating season, during a week of nice, warm weather I were to gently "water" a nest, do you think that could encourage or trick them to fly?

[drtrmiller]

No, watering a nest will not be sufficient.  

 

The environmental cues that trigger mating in wild colonies occur on a macro scale, which is why you see huge nuptial flights in many species.

Edited by drtrmiller, November 30 2014 - 8:40 PM.

[James C. Trager]

Yes, what drtmiller said. I have only once seen ants triggered to fly by a sprinkler system. It was hot and dry for a few weeks before, and the sprinklers were run through the morning in a landscaped area, giving the ground a through soaking. Solenopsis molesta flew that afternoon. The dragonflies were very happy; Many swarmed to the area, grabbing up every queen that took flight. Usually, it takes more than artificial watering to stimulate ant flights, e.g., full fledged weather phenomena.

[dspdrew]

It certainly can happen in some very localized areas. When I go looking in the desert, I watch the radar and go straight to the spot where it rained, even if it's only a two mile radius. I will find founding chambers in that spot, but not a single one outside that area.

 

Retroman has managed to breed ants in captivity. I have proof of it right in my collection of colonies, as my P. tenuispinus colony came from this year's breeding. He explained how he did it in this post (http://forum.formicu...21-2014/?p=5708) on my P. tenuispinus journal.

 

Keep in mind, this was done during the same time of the year that they fly in the wild.

[Foogoo]

It looks like Solenopsis can be tricked into flying:

 

 

Swarming or nuptial flights of imported fire ants can be initiated in a laboratory colony by increasing the soil moisture and slightly elevating the temperature above the prevailing laboratory conditions.

 

I still wonder if this would work on wild colonies. 

Edited by Foogoo, April 7 2015 - 11:34 AM.

[kellakk]

This would be an interesting test.  I might try this on a Solenopsis invicta mound, shining extra sunlight on the mounds using a mirror and watering the surrounding soil.