2467 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Is that Formica francoeuri? Can you post better pictures of the queens?

[dspdrew]

Oh wow, that Mormon Rocks place is right next to the fire station where Chromerust and I go anting a lot. There's a lot of Formica francoeuri around there, but I would think this is a bit early for Formica to be flying.

[PTAntFan]

Drew, what time of day were you out there?

[dspdrew]

If you're talking about the fire station spot, we have been there all different times of day.

[PTAntFan]

I was wondering about the time of day you found them wandering. Also any speculation on the time of the flight for the species you found alates/queens?

[dspdrew]

Sounds like you are referring to Foogoo's post. I'm not the one that found the Formica queens.

[PTAntFan]

yeah, got my posts mixed up.

[Foogoo]

Is that Formica francoeuri? Can you post better pictures of the queens?

I'll try tonight, tubes are the worst when it comes to glare. I actually decided to visit Mormon Rocks based on your anting map, it's a great tool! 

 

I was wondering about the time of day you found them wandering. Also any speculation on the time of the flight for the species you found alates/queens?

I probably reached the first stop where one was wandering and a queen and drone fell out of the sky around 11:30am. I stopped by the creek after that and was at the Rocks around 2-3pm. I think they flew in the morning. My friend was plucking drones out of the creek when we were there around noon.

 

Out of the 7, they all seem healthy and one alate removed her wings. I'm trying to move them into THA housings before the cotton has a chance to mold or flood, some queens have already began ripping at it. One of the queens refused to leave the tube gently so she landed with a *plop*. She still looks healthy, but boy that was an unsettling sound  .

[dspdrew]

Can you post the GPS coordinates to where you were finding most of them? Also, would you describe these queens as hairy or bald?

[Foogoo]

Can you post the GPS coordinates to where you were finding most of them? Also, would you describe these queens as hairy or bald?

 

I'll extract the EXIF data and post it to your Ant Map thread. My initial impression is bald except for a velvety gaster, which is why I thought they were L. occidentale. A closer look at some of the close ups in the ID thread seems to confirm my impression.

[dspdrew]

Also, would you describe these queens as hairy or bald?

 

That sounds really funny now that I read it again.

[Foogoo]

 

Also, would you describe these queens as hairy or bald?

 

That sounds really funny now that I read it again.

 

I feel like a lot of things we say here can sound pretty weird out of context.

 

Here's are a few half-decent pictures I got with an actual camera and magnifier. One of the queens already laid 4 eggs and was pulling another out of her ... uh, gaster. The queen in the Talus has also laid eggs. They seem really adamant on digging whether that means tugging at the cotton or the glued down sand. I'm thinking a founding container with sand, similar to what Gregory posted in the other thread is the way to go.

Album: Formica

22 images

0 comments

[dspdrew]

I think they are Formica francoeuri. I can see they're covered in white pubescence and short hairs. This would make sense, as there is a LOT of them around that area, especially along the 138 East of the 5 freeway. Over there they are almost the only ants you can find. I also see you found one actually at the fire station. I haven't see any other Formica over there but Formica francoeuri, so I am pretty confident that's what you have there. This is great because now I can add them to the mating chart.

[dspdrew]

Sunday's looking good. I think I might go up in the San Jacinto Mountains, and check out some of the desert-ish areas off the 78, closer to Palm Desert as well.

[Foogoo]

Sunday's looking good. I think I might go up in the San Jacinto Mountains, and check out some of the desert-ish areas off the 78, closer to Palm Desert as well.

 

Keep us posted! I'm taking some time off soon and will likely try to hit up the places I can never find the time to visit.

[dspdrew]

Looks like it poured rain in a few places out by Landers and Amboy. I'm hoping some closer spots get some too.

[PTAntFan]

Up here as well near Santa Clarita. However, will be under 70F tomorrow. Doesn't seem warm enough to make the drive worth it does it?

[dspdrew]

It poured rain in Santa Clarita?

[PTAntFan]

one of the weather apps I was looking at showed rain for the area, Wunderground did not. So, I don't know.

[dspdrew]

Are you talking about radar, or recorded rainfall totals?