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Polyergus raids

Started By Salmon , Jul 15 2016 5:16 PM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Salmon - Posted July 15 2016 - 5:16 PM

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The field where I discovered a bunch of Pheidole pilfera colonies has really turned out to be a good spot for anting. I've seen at least 20 different species there, most recently and interestingly a colony of Polyergus lucidus colony that's been raiding Formica incerta colonies around 5:30 pm every day for about a week.
I filmed them and made this Youtube video, though after uploading it I found that there were already several similar videos. Still, I think mine's pretty good.
https://m.youtube.co...h?v=FSnNzjzQxF0
Interestingly, today two separate raids happened close to the same time, but the larger one was unsuccessful and came back empty- handed.

Edited by Salmon, July 15 2016 - 5:52 PM.

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#2 Offline noebl1 - Posted July 15 2016 - 5:48 PM

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Thanks for posting this!  I had noticed (also around the same time in the evening) the same ants running across the driveway carrying pupae from somewhere.  Wasn't sure what they were until now :)


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#3 Offline MrILoveTheAnts - Posted July 15 2016 - 6:11 PM

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Excellent video! I especially liked the mention of Formica incerta plugging up their nest entrances in preparation for Polyergus raids. It's something I didn't even know they did!


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#4 Offline dspdrew - Posted July 15 2016 - 6:37 PM

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Nice footage.


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#5 Offline Barristan - Posted July 15 2016 - 10:03 PM

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Very cool video, thank you for sharing.


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#6 Offline Salmon - Posted July 16 2016 - 7:08 AM

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Excellent video! I especially liked the mention of Formica incerta plugging up their nest entrances in preparation for Polyergus raids. It's something I didn't even know they did!


And sometimes, it works! One of yesterday's raids spent quite a bit of time searching but never found the nest.

#7 Offline Salmon - Posted July 26 2016 - 3:55 PM

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Today, I noticed something interesting at the Polyergus nest- a wingless Polyergus queen, about the size of a Camponotus major, walking around a few inches away. I grabbed her to get a closer look, and while I've already been bitten by the workers I was NOT expecting her bite to be so painful! She drew blood and left a pair of visible holes in my finger, which still hurts quite a bit as I'm typing this.

I put her back where I found her, and she made a beeline for the nest entrance. She was immediately attacked and killed by the resident Polyergus and slaves. Was she actually a foreign queen attempting to take over the established Polyergus colony? Are they known to do that?

#8 Offline gcsnelling - Posted July 26 2016 - 5:45 PM

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Look up the work of Howard Topoff, he has been studying these ants for years in Arizona.


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