3 replies to this topic

[NikolaBale]

Question, some species of ants fly multiple times a year or month.How does that work exactly,are there nests that haven't flown yet or did part of the alates fly before and the other parf after.I'm asking because for example if i go to the same field i did a couple of weeks ago where i caught 140 messor structor queens,can they fly at the same place again?

Edited by NikolaBale, April 22 2019 - 2:00 AM.

[Mettcollsuss]

Some species only have one large flight, while others have several smaller ones. The ones with multiple flight release only some of the alates. Although, in general, even the species that have multiple flights usually have a large one followed by a few smaller ones. In some areas, where a species is extremely dominant and has access to all resources in the area (like RIFA in the southern US) they might constantly produce alates and fly all year round.

[TennesseeAnts]

Formica have multiple flights. Usually there is one larger flight first though.

[Mdrogun]

Ants will fly whenever the environmental conditions are met and they have alates in the nest. Because of this, I would venture to say that very few species, if any, only fly once a season. Not all alates eclose at the same time, and those environmental conditions are usually met at least a few times a year.