2467 replies to this topic

[Ants4fun]

Told you! And you didn't believe me. In all seriousness, will that be enough to stir up ants or how much is necessary to cause a nuptial flight?

[dspdrew]

It's probably not going to do anything for nuptial flights, because it's way too cold out.

[dermy]

Well, we did get some rain. We got a amazing 1/4 inch of rain, and are on track to getting another whopping 1/4 inch of rain today too! This is definitely going to be causing some serious flooding.

Wow with that kind of rain fall you better get out the Sand Bags!

[dspdrew]

I think I'm going to check out the Llano area Saturday.

[dspdrew]

It got close to 80F in quite a few places today. I think I might check out Trabuco Canyon this evening. I'm not going to the Victor Valley area Saturday unless it ends up not raining there Friday.

 

Edit: I was too lazy to go anywhere.

Edited by dspdrew, March 11 2016 - 6:21 AM.

[PTAntFan]

Me too on the lazy front, but I have some time today and thinking about heading up to Placerita Cyn where we saw Veromesors last year.  It was 86F up there yesterday and with the rain earlier in the week one can hope for some founding chambers.  30m drive is worth it.

[dspdrew]

Good luck. V. andrei doesn't usually start flying though until around June.

[PTAntFan]

Hmm. Thought FooGoo and I IDed something up here that flew in March. Nice to get outside again anyway...

[Foogoo]

Hmm. Thought FooGoo and I IDed something up here that flew in March. Nice to get outside again anyway...

 

Might be V. pergandei which has been flying. I can't recall if it was pergandei or andrei I saw up at Placertia though. Did you end up going out?

[PTAntFan]

Pergandei is my recollection but there was no sign of them or others flying. There were plenty of Formica crawling about but no alates or founding mounds. Then it rained. Was still great to get outside for first time this season.

[dspdrew]

I think I'm going to check out Trabuco Canyon Wednesday if it gets up to 83 like WU says. Might be the first evening mating flights. It should be 70 F and 40% humidity when it gets dark. I've noticed any less than 40% humidity and nothing flies. Most likely if I see anything it will be S. molesta.

[dspdrew]

Found nothing but two Tapinoma sessile queens under a rock in the creek bed.   Waste of time.

 

Looks like this weekend might be okay for checking out the Phelan area of the desert. Since they got plenty of rain last week, and it's supposed to be in the 80's for a few days, it's possible something might have flown and dug some founding chambers.

[Foogoo]

Anyone see any Camponotus in Socal yet? I don't have much time in the next few weeks, but if I do, I'm hoping to head up the mountains and find some.

[dspdrew]

I was going to go to Mount Baldy with kellakk Thursday, but decided not to when the forecast temps dropped slightly. I'm not sure if he went or not. I'm still thinking I might go check out the Phelan area this weekend.

[dspdrew]

I didn't do to bad out in the desert today. I was in the Llano/Pinon Hills area, and I found three Veromessor pergandei queens, two Myrmecocystus queens, and one Pheidole queen.

 

Long drive.

 

 

 

The loot.

 

 

 

Unfortunately, the Pheidole queen died.

[Foogoo]

Nice! All from founding chambers? A good 50% of the ones I dug up when I was out there a month or so ago were duds, I assumed they dug themselves deeper.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, founding chambers. I probably scored about 50% of the time too. That's actually pretty good. A lot of times it's closer to one out of five.

[PTAntFan]

Ooh, color me jealous. How big are those Pergandei?

[dspdrew]

The queens are slightly larger than Pogonomyrmex queens.

[PTAntFan]

Must HAVE!  If you had to pick one spot over the next three days, including this afternoon to go somewhere for some Pergandei where would you go?

Edited by PTAntFan, March 22 2016 - 11:27 AM.