30 replies to this topic

[Manitobant]

On Sunday I will be heading to Palm Springs, CA with my grandparents for a week and I will be looking for ants every day. We are planning to go hiking at Joshua tree national park and I really hope to see some Acromyrmex Versicolor while I am there. I also plan to keep my eyes peeled for solenopsis xyloni, pogonomyrmex, veromessor and maybe even some myrmecocystus while i blacklight in a field across from my grandparents winter place that they say has lots of bugs. I will be posting my finds in this thread throughout next week.

Edited by Manitobant, January 6 2019 - 9:06 AM.

[dspdrew]

You probably won't find any ants on a black light this time of the year, because they aren't flying, but you will most likely see some of those you mentioned foraging around. Veromessor pergandei are almost always out, no matter how hot or cold it is.

[Manitobant]

You probably won't find any ants on a black light this time of the year, because they aren't flying, but you will most likely see some of those you mentioned foraging around. Veromessor pergandei are almost always out, no matter how hot or cold it is.

I wasn't really going to use the blacklight for ants. It’s more to see if any insects are flying.

[Subverted]

hiking at Joshua tree national park

You may already know this but seeing as you are from Canada I will mention this just in case. Do NOT collect anything inside the National Park. Have fun and keep hydrated.

[Manitobant]

hiking at Joshua tree national park

You may already know this but seeing as you are from Canada I will mention this just in case. Do NOT collect anything inside the National Park. Have fun and keep hydrated.

I know, I’m just looking to observe and photograph wild ants. Also, can you find Acromyrmex Versicolor there?

[Lazarus]

I doubt that you will find Acromyrmex Versicolor there as those are more desert ants. But I'm a Canadian too so what do I know? good luck visual hunting.

[Zeiss]

I doubt that you will find Acromyrmex Versicolor there as those are more desert ants. But I'm a Canadian too so what do I know? good luck visual hunting.

Palm Springs is in the desert, but I think Acromyrmex versicolor don't start showing up until maybe an hour or so east of Palm Springs.  Maybe a bit further than that.  

[Manitobant]

I doubt that you will find Acromyrmex Versicolor there as those are more desert ants. But I'm a Canadian too so what do I know? good luck visual hunting.

Palm Springs is in the desert, but I think Acromyrmex versicolor don't start showing up until maybe an hour or so east of Palm Springs.  Maybe a bit further than that.

I heard drew found them at Joshua tree national park. And we are hiking there.

[kellakk]

 

 

I doubt that you will find Acromyrmex Versicolor there as those are more desert ants. But I'm a Canadian too so what do I know? good luck visual hunting.

Palm Springs is in the desert, but I think Acromyrmex versicolor don't start showing up until maybe an hour or so east of Palm Springs.  Maybe a bit further than that.

I heard drew found them at Joshua tree national park. And we are hiking there.

 

 

There are some around the south entrance to the park. They might not be out right now, though.

[gcsnelling]

Unless the weather cooperates Veromessor pergandei is your most likely bet.

[Manitobant]

Ok guys, today is the day I leave for Palm Springs... I probably won’t be able to get any ant pictures since I will be arriving pretty late at night and we have to unpack our bags but I will post some if I get any and will reply again to this thread when I arrive.

[Manitobant]

Arrived 3 hours ago... tomorrow I will start the main purpose of this thread, which is to find and photograph ants.

[Manitobant]

Dorymyrmex bicolor!
My pic won’t load.

[FSTP]

Dorymyrmex bicolor!
My pic won’t load.

 

 

 

How exciting for you! Seeing new ants!

[Manitobant]

Here is the image: http://www.formicult...0-ffabad80a176/

[Manitobant]

Found some solenopsis invicta. These little sh**s are everywhere:http://www.formicult...b-631759b9bd64/

I found some pogonomyrmex californicus and decided to take some sample specimens since they are bigger than most other ants around here:http://www.formicult...0-8ec515915fd4/

Large colony of veromessor pergandei in a nearby field:http://www.formicult...0181231-133934/

A tiny ant with a white gaster that I found while digging up what I thought to be founding chambers. Can I please get an ID? http://www.formicult...0181231-143603/

Edited by Manitobant, December 31 2018 - 3:30 PM.

[YsTheAnt]

Those S. ivicta are probably xyloni. Most places in the desert is too dry for Invicta to survive. Solenopsis xyloni on the other hand is quite common in drier environments.

[Manitobant]

Those S. ivicta are probably xyloni. Most places in the desert is too dry for Invicta to survive. Solenopsis xyloni on the other hand is quite common in drier environments.

they seem a little dark though. RIFA are also known from the coachella valley so I’m really not sure.

EDIT: I think you may be right as their mounds are more low to the ground and that matches up with xyloni mounds while invicta mounds are different. Also, I caught a queen that looks almost exactly like some of the dark form of xyloni.

Edited by Manitobant, December 31 2018 - 8:07 PM.

[Manitobant]

I found a queen! I’m pretty sure she is the dark form of solenopsis xyloni since our area is pretty dry. The fire ant mounds seem to look more like xyloni mounds than invicta ones now that I think about it, and the dark form is just as common as the light ones. I will be starting a journal until I probably kill her (it’s for my ant collection and there is a small chance that she is invicta so yeah) or release her. Here is the queen:http://www.formicult...a-08fd8b2a056c/and here is the journal:http://www.formicult...al/#entry106868

Edited by Manitobant, December 31 2018 - 8:26 PM.

[Manitobant]

Also happy new year everybody!

Edited by Manitobant, December 31 2018 - 8:29 PM.