9 replies to this topic

[Jonathan5608]

I’m gonna be looking for some ants next year and I would love to have advice on how to look for these species. Also any recommendations for species in my area would be greatly appreciated.
1. Stigmatomma pallipes
2. Strumigenys pulchella or rostrata
3. A Formica sp.(neogagates, subsericea, lasioides)
4. Maybe a Aphaenogaster sp.(fulva, rudis, and carolinensis)

[ANTdrew]

You don’t need to wait until next year for Formica or Aphaenogaster; it’s peak time to find them right now!
Aphaenogaster: Put up a blacklight trap around 4:30am on hot, humid mornings.
Formica: Look for queens on hot, humid days from 11am- 2pm.

[Jonathan5608]

Thank you for the advice
It rained today so perhaps tonight I’ll find some

Edited by Jonathan5608, July 14 2022 - 1:10 PM.

[m99]

Yeah Aphaenogasters should be everywhere soon if they aren't already. This is the time of year when my A. picea queen just walked right up to me in the hallway last summer, good luck!

[Manitobant]

Long island also has trachymyrmex septentoralis, which are fungus growers. Id highly recommend looking for them.

[FloridaAnts]

I have little success raising them. I have heard they need fungus, as they eat their own fungus when it gets a decent size.

[Jonathan5608]

Does anyone know where to look for Stigmatomma pallipes

[madbiologist]

Stigmatomma pallipes can be found in wet, forested areas, sometimes under logs or rocks. Even where they are found, they are an uncommon sight. I typically see them in areas with claylike soil, but I believe that isn't a requirement for them.

[Jonathan5608]

I think I found one today. It was under some wood. There very small.

[Jonathan5608]

I want to add one more queen to my collection and I think Crematogaster is the way to go. Does anyone have advice on how to search for them.