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District, Maryland, & Virginia Queen Watch

Started By IcarusSkybound , Apr 14 2018 12:16 PM

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899 replies to this topic

#81 Offline nabeach89 - Posted March 20 2020 - 10:49 AM

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I am going out to some wooded areas tonight here in VB and am going to dig around a bit. There are some bodies of standing water, and a few fields and small forests that I can check out. I will also be up early tomorrow to look around.


#82 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 20 2020 - 11:46 AM

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That sounds good!
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#83 Offline Cblake113 - Posted March 29 2020 - 9:43 AM

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You all think tonight might be the nuptial flight for camponotus? It was a bit chilly early this morning but beautiful now!

#84 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 29 2020 - 9:52 AM

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I’d definitely be on the lookout. We’re getting to 79 here.
Edit: seems too cool for much here in NOVA. Things may be better down south.

Edited by ANTdrew, March 29 2020 - 10:01 AM.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#85 Offline Cblake113 - Posted March 29 2020 - 6:55 PM

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I found 2 queens tonight. Both I believe are camponotus pennsylvanicus. One was on a tree with a few workers next to her. The other was by herself next to a light. Both wingless and both not as big as I would have expected them to be.

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#86 Offline nabeach89 - Posted March 30 2020 - 8:14 AM

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That is awesome CBlake! If you don't mind me asking a couple of questions (I am new, and also extremely curious); what region of VA are you in? What are their lengths? Hows the weather?


#87 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted March 30 2020 - 8:15 AM

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It got up to the mid-80's yesterday where I live. I would have gone queen hunting but from my experience the only Camponotus to fly this early are species in the subgenus Myrmentoma, as well as Camponotus chromaiodes. I have very bad luck with Myrmentoma Camponotus, so I figured I'd let them be this year. It's strange, but I think Prenolepis may have flown for the first time in my area yesterday as well. It's weird to have Camponotus and Prenolepis fly for the first time on the same day, because yesterday not only was hot, but it was also only the second day of the year so far to reach over 75 degrees. 

Anyways, I'm interested to hear if others have seen Prenolepis yet.


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I accidentally froze all my ants 

#88 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 30 2020 - 9:26 AM

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FTA’s back!
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#89 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 30 2020 - 9:33 AM

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I haven’t found any queens yet this spring. Seen a crap ton of Prenolepis males, though.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#90 Offline nabeach89 - Posted March 30 2020 - 11:15 AM

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Whelp, now that we are confined to our homes unless its essential, the activity of catching a queen is now a bit more challenging. I may get a black light and a bed sheet! Has anyone here had luck with that?


#91 Offline Cblake113 - Posted March 30 2020 - 11:38 AM

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They were about 3/8 inches long. I'm in Hampton virginia. And we got up to 85-86 degrees yesterday afternoon.

I have not seen Prenolepis yet. I havent found many different ant species. But I am on the lookout.
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#92 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 30 2020 - 12:05 PM

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They were about 3/8 inches long. I'm in Hampton virginia. And we got up to 85-86 degrees yesterday afternoon.

I have not seen Prenolepis yet. I havent found many different ant species. But I am on the lookout.

You should do an id request for them. My guess is Camponotus nearcticus if they’re so small.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#93 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 30 2020 - 12:08 PM

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Whelp, now that we are confined to our homes unless its essential, the activity of catching a queen is now a bit more challenging. I may get a black light and a bed sheet! Has anyone here had luck with that?

This stay at home order really sucks, but you can still walk around in parks and such, from what I can gather.
I’m planning to buy a blacklight, too. I’ve never tried it, but I’m hoping to find Pheidole that way.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#94 Offline AntsDakota - Posted March 30 2020 - 12:15 PM

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Well, looks like you have a Virginian community now.........
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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

#95 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 30 2020 - 12:18 PM

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Yeah, look at that! Hope FTA activates again.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#96 Offline AntsDakota - Posted March 30 2020 - 12:41 PM

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I bet you feel the same way I did when Ants4Fun 'reactivated'.


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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

#97 Offline Cblake113 - Posted March 30 2020 - 1:25 PM

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They were about 3/8 inches long. I'm in Hampton virginia. And we got up to 85-86 degrees yesterday afternoon.
I have not seen Prenolepis yet. I havent found many different ant species. But I am on the lookout.

You should do an id request for them. My guess is Camponotus nearcticus if they’re so small.

Actually that makes much more sense! I was taking a guess at what they were. And I thought they were very small for pennsylvanicus.
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#98 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted March 30 2020 - 2:05 PM

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Yeah, look at that! Hope FTA activates again.

Currently re-zapping my batteries of enthusiasm for ants... the winter sludge is over and I'm out of hibernation.


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I accidentally froze all my ants 

#99 Offline ANTdrew - Posted March 30 2020 - 2:41 PM

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We missed you, bro
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#100 Offline AntsDakota - Posted March 30 2020 - 3:26 PM

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I don’t believe I was around when you were last active. Good to meet you.
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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

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