3 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

We just had some rain storms pass through this area of Southern California so I drove up around Big Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains.
 
I first stopped here along Mill Creek just after entering the mountains.
 

 
Found:
 
Dorymyrmex insanus
 
Forelius sp.
 
Liometopum occidentale
 
Pogonomyrmex (don't remember what species)
 
Solenopsis xyloni
 

 
 
Formica francoeuri (These ranged in size, about 5mm - 6mm)
 

 

 

 

 

 
Next I stopped at Big Falls Trail where I took a quick hike up to the waterfall while my battery charged. In the short time I was there I saw what looked like Camponotus anthrax.
 
After here I drove up to about the 6000 foot level where I stopped at some nature trail a little ways up from the town of Angelus Oaks.
 
The habitat here was a mixed pine and oak forest.
 

 
Here I found a few different species of ants, but only one small spot of each along the whole trail.
 
Formica ravida
 

 

 

 
 
Formica subpolita (These ranged in size around 5mm - 6mm)
 

 

 

 

 
 
Pogonomyrmex californicus (I was surprised to find these guys at this altitude.)
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Camponotus laevigatus (Another all black Camponotus which I don't see very often. These were out trailing during the day, and ranged in size around  10mm.)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Finally my last stop was a little trail further up around the 8500 foot level. Up here the only thing I found were Pogonomyrmex.
 
Pogonomyrmex montanus (I didn't get samples of these for some reason, so I only have the pictures I took in the wild. These were a very dark, brick red color, with black mandibles. Their size was about 6mm. In one of the pictures I think you can see a small spine showing.)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
That's it for now.

[Alza]

In your formica ravida picture, what is that they are holding ?

[Ants4fun]

I believe a termite.

[Gregory2455]

I believe a termite.

Agreed.