181 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

Update 9-21-2020

 

 Temperatures have dropped a lot in Virginia, and that means there isn't much time left for my perennials. I'm enjoying the last show of all the asters and goldenrods, though. All sorts of bees and butterflies are staying active, even in the cool conditions.

 

 

 Prenolepis impairs have also activated again! I found tons of them foraging on a particular milkweed plant that is kind of by itself next to my Solidago juncea plants. There aren't any aphids I can see on the plant, so I'm not sure what exactly is drawing them, but there must be something of interest. You got to love Prenolepis.

 

 

 

[Devi]

 

Update 9-21-2020

 

 Temperatures have dropped a lot in Virginia, and that means there isn't much time left for my perennials. I'm enjoying the last show of all the asters and goldenrods, though. All sorts of bees and butterflies are staying active, even in the cool conditions.

 

 

 

 

 Prenolepis impairs have also activated again! I found tons of them foraging on a particular milkweed plant that is kind of by itself next to my Solidago juncea plants. There aren't any aphids I can see on the plant, so I'm not sure what exactly is drawing them, but there must be something of interest. You got to love Prenolepis.

 

 

 

 

Nice!  I have a garden with lots of flowers I plant each year, and they have been getting progressively worse as it gets colder.    It is really interesting how much ants interact with the plants.    I like your assortment!

[Ants_Dakota]

My ants love milkweed aphids. They battle over them every year!

[AnthonyP163]

Those Prenolepis imparis have beautiful colors.

Edited by AnthonyP163, September 21 2020 - 10:40 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Yes, the Prenolepis are a lovely reddish color.

 

Helianthus tuberosus, or Jerusalem artichokes are in full bloom. I consider this a great ant plant, but it's a real thug in the garden. Plant with caution.

Edited by ANTdrew, September 22 2020 - 5:01 AM.

[ANTdrew]

9-29-2020

Just a cool photo of a big mantis I saw on Sunday hunting amid my Asters. I guess folks would call this a "beneficial insect" even though they're not native. I'm still a little bit salty about that term and the majority of insects it excludes, such as ants. Mantids are just awesome, regardless.

 

[Ants_Dakota]

wish we had mantis around here.

[ANTdrew]

Update 9-30-2020

It's salamander season again in my yard! I found three red-backed salamanders under some logs today as I was looking for crickets for my colonies. These salamanders hide out deep underground most of the hot, dry months and come up around now to mate. They actually peak in December in my yard, especially on unseasonably warm nights following rain. Their favorite food is termites, so they have plenty of those in the rotten wood I've filled my yard with. I've loved these things since I was a little boy:


It's a wonder to me that any amphibians can survive our toxic planet.

Edited by ANTdrew, September 30 2020 - 3:52 PM.

[Ants_Dakota]

wish i had salamanders in my yard.

[Kaelwizard]

Update 9-30-2020

It's salamander season again in my yard! I found three red-backed salamanders under some logs today as I was looking for crickets for my colonies. These salamanders hide out deep underground most of the hot, dry months and come up around now to mate. They actually peak in December in my yard, especially on unseasonably warm nights following rain. Their favorite food is termites, so they have plenty of those in the rotten wood I've filled my yard with. I've loved this things since I was a little boy:


It's a wonder to me that any amphibians can survive our toxic planet.

I have one of those! They are Eastern red-backed salamanders.

[ANTdrew]

Update 10-5-2020

 

I was getting pretty worried that I hadn't seen a rough green snake in my garden yet this year. I finally saw one yesterday, though! It was actually in the front of the house, which is interesting because that's where all the disruption happened due to my foundation repairs. I picked it up and moved it back into the thicker, weedier parts of my native jungle. These snakes are very docile and very beautiful.

 

 

[TennesseeAnts]

Update 10-5-2020

 

I was getting pretty worried that I hadn't seen a rough green snake in my garden yet this year. I finally saw one yesterday, though! It was actually in the front of the house, which is interesting because that's where all the disruption happened due to my foundation repairs. I picked it up and moved it back into the thicker, weedier parts of my native jungle. These snakes are very docile and very beautiful.

 

I love all snakes, but Rough Green Snakes have a special place in my heart....

[Ants_Dakota]

Update 10-5-2020

 

I was getting pretty worried that I hadn't seen a rough green snake in my garden yet this year. I finally saw one yesterday, though! It was actually in the front of the house, which is interesting because that's where all the disruption happened due to my foundation repairs. I picked it up and moved it back into the thicker, weedier parts of my native jungle. These snakes are very docile and very beautiful.

 

all we have is boring gardener snakes...I would live a emerald green snake that lived around here.

[KitsAntVa]

I have a snake that isn’t a gardener snake it’s like a black ish brown stripe down the middle and a dark green everywhere else with like a triangle head.

[ANTdrew]

Perhaps a ribbon snake?

[KitsAntVa]

Definitely not, it’s pretty fast and is kinda long about 2 feet long.

[Devi]

 

Update 10-5-2020

 

I was getting pretty worried that I hadn't seen a rough green snake in my garden yet this year. I finally saw one yesterday, though! It was actually in the front of the house, which is interesting because that's where all the disruption happened due to my foundation repairs. I picked it up and moved it back into the thicker, weedier parts of my native jungle. These snakes are very docile and very beautiful.

 

all we have is boring gardener snakes...I would live a emerald green snake that lived around here.

 

Same.

[Kaelwizard]

GARTER snakes, not gardener snakes as many people call them, are actually pretty neat. Also, green snakes are insectivores, so that's another thing going for them. Wouldn't have to feed them mice.

[Ants_Dakota]

GARTER snakes, not gardener snakes as many people call them, are actually pretty neat. Also, green snakes are insectivores, so that's another thing going for them. Wouldn't have to feed them mice.

sorry! garter snakes it is!

[Kaelwizard]

I think they can be called gardener snakes just because so many people call them that, but it is officially garter snake.