2467 replies to this topic

[StopSpazzing]

Well... Brachymyrmex patagonicus flew after 7pm yesterday; caught dealates 2 queens, hundreds others poured outside from my apartment building. Good times.  I put the 2 queens into a single test tube. Killed all other queen alates I could find. I kinda expect them to maybe fly tonight too since temp is so high.

 

Also oddly enough, found what I was pretty sure a male Camponotus alate at my porch light.

Edited by StopSpazzing, April 10 2018 - 1:22 PM.

[anttics]

we had rains in Ventura county and LA county. unfortunately it did not reach the deserts.

[dspdrew]

Yeah we got a couple drops in OC too. That's not enough to do anything.

[anttics]

I see. here I got a good amount. I'll check my local grounds if it heats up. which looks like it won't happen. temps here are 40 min, 65 max. afternoon drops to 50.

[dspdrew]

Not sure where you are located, but other than right along the coast, there was 0 to .02 inches of rain.

[nurbs]

Some spots in the lower elevation Sierras up north look primed for flights. My truck tires haven't come in yet, so might rent a car on Monday and drive up there.

 

There are things up north that are not available down here in SoCal:

 

Camponotus modoc

Polygynous Camponotus vicinus (the ones down here don't get along with each other)

Undescribed C. modoc

 

If I go, will be looking for these!

Edited by nurbs, April 19 2018 - 9:34 PM.

[YsTheAnt]

Will Yosemite (or higher elevation Sierras) be later, and have all of the above species?

[Scrixx]

Has anyone who went on the Chaney trail have their other species besides Camponotus sansabeanus lay eggs? None of the C. vicinus or C. temnothorax have laid eggs. I've tried without oak bark, with oak bark, heat, no heat, 70F, 80F. No luck. I'm wondering if anyone has any luck getting them to lay eggs? 

 

It's possible that I caught only infertile queens or failed queens but it seems unlikely since all of them are not laying rather than just a few. Are there conditions I'm not meeting or did I really just draw up the short stick? All of the queens have no wings. 

[dspdrew]

Heading up north to the Sierras today. Temps are looking pretty good.

[KBant]

Going to crystal lake campground tonight.

[anttics]

Heading up north to the Sierras today. Temps are looking pretty good.

ANY good spots to visit around ther Drew.

[AntsCalifornia]

Just want to say that I saw 3 different male ants at my halogen light last night, no queens. I live around Rancho and Fontana. They were red/red with black gasters. 

[KBant]

Crystal Lake was a total fail. It was way too cold!

[dspdrew]

Yeah I just wasted my time and gas too. Too cold where I was as well. Now nurbs is going to go do the same thing.

 

I don't know why we can't just get a heatwave like we used to get. We haven't had a real heatwave since January.

[anttics]

I went to Simi valley. It wad around 70 at 9pm. Found 2 sansabeanus queen. Looks like I caught the last wave of camps around here. No chambers. I hope these are fertile.

[AntsCalifornia]

Not totally sure but maybe you guys were a bit late. I know it got a lot hotter Saturday night and I saw alates in my backyard in Rancho. Then on Sunday it was cold and I didn't find any alates. Don't know how far a heat wave stretches, but Crystal Lake is pretty close to where I live.

[nurbs]

Yeah I just wasted my time and gas too. Too cold where I was as well. Now nurbs is going to go do the same thing.

 

I don't know why we can't just get a heatwave like we used to get. We haven't had a real heatwave since January.

 

Heading out Tuesday. Will be just outside of Yosemite park. There are spots tomorrow and Wednesday that will get warm, at least according the weather.

 

One of two things will happen. I will come back with nothing and rage, or will come back with jackpot and Drew will rage. 

[YsTheAnt]

Either way, somebody gonna rage tommorow.

[nurbs]

nurbs reporting from the field! sorry for the grammar and shorthand, but posting this from
phone.

everything flew. laevigatus, modocs, vicinus, midget vicinus, all camps pretty much.

two disappointing things. don’t think i found those undescribed modocs, and also cannot see drew rage.

more later, tired. driving home now.

[dspdrew]

Haha yeah well I know your secret...