2467 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Crematogaster and Acromyrmex if it rains in the right place.

[dspdrew]

Looks like we might have one last chance to get some Acromyrmex this year. There's a chance of rain in the area where they are found for the next two days. I'll be watching the weather.

[PTAntFan]

Where would that be approximately, Drew?  My schedule is pretty jacked up but I've never come close to an Acromyrmex flight.

[dspdrew]

Most anywhere right outside the entrances of Joshua Tree National Park.

[PTAntFan]

Anything worth driving out to tomorrow?  Rain-wise I mean.  I might scout Frazier Park a bit for next Spring.

[dspdrew]

Nope... not yet anyway. It does look like the Acromyrmex area is actually getting some light rain right now though. This storm system is probably the last chance for them this year, unless more storms pop up within a week or so.

[dspdrew]

Well, right now they're forecasting a very solid 60% chance of around an inch of rain in Joshua Tree for more than 24 hours straight at the beginning of next week. It might not be too late for Acromyrmex versicolor to fly in the areas that haven't received much rain yet this summer.

[NightsWebs]

just read rainfall in Jtree said .79 inches so its not a lot but its some

[dspdrew]

That would be plenty for a mating flight.

[dspdrew]

And it's gone.

[kellakk]

Umm, NOAA is still forecasting up to 2 inches of rain all over the Sonoran Desert over the next 7 days.

 

[dspdrew]

Oh yeah, it's kind of fluctuating, but WU had Joshua Tree at a possible inch, and now it looks like they're predicting .5 inches. Trabuco Canyon went from an inch to .25 in their forecast. For the deserts the total might as well be seen as part of the percentage of chance, because usually it's either tons of rain, or nothing.

[dspdrew]

And now there is 0 inches of rain forecast. They aren't even forecasting enough clouds to give us another day or two of half way decent temperatures. Looks like there won't be any getting Acromyrmex this year.

 

I'll believe this El Nino stuff when I see it. So far it's just the same exact pattern we have seen for years. All sorts of rain forecast 5 days away, only to dwindle to nothing before ever showing up.

[dspdrew]

I found a couple pictures from the big desert trip we all went on this summer.

 

This Veromessor pergandei colony knew how to stay dry in the middle of a flash flood.

 

 

 

 

A little mushroom I found growing in Palm Desert just after a rain storm came through.

 

[PTAntFan]

Rain earlier this week and massive heat today. Last chance for the season or too late for anything?

[dspdrew]

Maybe some Crematogaster in the hills. This heatwave is an offshore flow though, so it might be to dry for any flights.

[Foogoo]

I'm tentatively planning to head to Vasquez Rocks sunday. Doubt I'll find any queens, but just to get outside and recon some colonies for next year.

[klawfran3]

There was a HUGE drywood termite flight at Kenneth Hahn's today, if anyone's into that. Kept getting them in my mouth when talking, there were so many flying around. Great ant food if anyone is looking to find some in the area. plus no risk of pesticides since they're in an area that doesn't spray.

Edited by klawfran3, October 9 2015 - 8:52 PM.

[dspdrew]

Yeah I saw drywood termite alates all over the place while I was renting a storage unit yesterday.

[dspdrew]

Looks like Joshua Tree is finally getting the rain we needed a month ago. Who knows, maybe it's still not too late for an Acromyrmex versicolor flight.