22 replies to this topic

[William. T]

I have read that queen ants are attracted to water. Would a kiddie pool work? I have one. It is filled with a thin layer of water constantly from rain, but there is a leakage, so only a centimeter or two constantly remains. I know where the leak is, and I can easily plug it up. Well, would this work to attract queen ants? The weather is starting to get warmer in Maryland. I want queens, but I don't want to drown ants. If you guys give me a go ahead, then I will place a lot of sticks and stones inside to prevent drowning. Keep in mind this is on my stone patio, where there are a lot of ants. The surrounding area is full of well tended lawns in the suburbs and a well sized forest that is swarming with Camponotus. Well? Any thoughts?

[AntTeen804]

I've been thinkinig about that too

[William. T]

Yeah.... Hey Antteen, do you live close to the Maryland Border? You will getting at lot of rainwater... and rainwater is free water, technically. That's how I fill my pool.

Edited by William. T, March 14 2015 - 5:32 PM.

[AntTeen804]

 yes we have been getting rain in virginia 

[Crystals]

Do you have an outside light on your patio?  One of those black light bulbs would attract queens at night (putting a white blanket behind it would make it much more effective)..  There are some black light bulbs that fit into a standard incandescent socket.  Either put up a bucket with a funnel beneath it, or go outside every 10min or so and check it.

As for during the day, just walk past it a few times a day.  I know I see a lot of queens running along the raised wall of my flower bed.

 

I have found queens in small pools after accidentally landing. If they can climb out, they either dry out and fly away or fall back in the water unless you are checking it regularly.  People with large pools will have more luck, as queens are clumsy fliers.

[Miles]

I find queens in our kiddie pool all the time during the spring and summer.

Also, it is no accident that they land here. They are drawn to the light reflections.

Edited by Miles, March 14 2015 - 8:40 PM.

[antmaniac]

It would definitely increase the chance of finding more queens.

[William. T]

I will make my pool larger, as I want to lure in more alates. Those that die will be frozen and fed, as I heard queen ants have potent fat reserves. Any thoughts?

[James C. Trager]

In the Mediterranean area, kiddie pools have trapped alates of some very rarely collected, deep subterranean ant species.

But yes, generally a good way to find alates of some common species, too. 

[William. T]

I'm looking for Ponera, Dr. Trager, but I suppose some subterranean ants would be nice.

[Jonathan21700]

I'm looking for Ponera, Dr. Trager, but I suppose some subterranean ants would be nice.

I have a Cryptopone queen witch is related to Ponera and I think is a subterranean species and they are a quite hard to raise species.

[William. T]

How did you catch it? I'm curious.

[Jonathan21700]

I saw some very small yellow ants flying and one landed on me. I took but on the way back I lost it so on the other day I came back to the same place and I started looking. Then I spotted a very small ant walking on the ground and I took it and came back home. When I checked her closer I saw she was a Ponerine queen. I was so surprised she was a queen and a Ponerine species.

Edited by Jonathan21700, March 15 2015 - 2:07 PM.

[William. T]

Ah, Ponerines... so interesting yet so rare... They are my goal for this season. But, do you think that since the ants are too attracted by the water that they do not mate?

[Foogoo]

How about filling a kiddie pool, aquarium or other basin with water outside and laying a fine mesh on the surface of the water so the queens won't immediately drown? Do you think the mesh would obscure the sight of water from the air?

[William. T]

That's an idea, but then my younger brother will use it often.

[Foogoo]

That's an idea, but then my younger brother will use it often.

 

Dual purpose!

[William. T]

Ha ha! This kiddie pool has many uses. In fishing season it is a fish storage container, sometimes it is a pool for kids(hence the name "kiddle pool"), a water reservoir to water the garden, or even a sandbox. The only problem with the idea is that the water dries up too quickly, as it is positioned in the open, and debris sometimes blows. I have a lid for it, but the queens will not see it if it is closed. What can I do?

[Jake]

I simply sprayed my patio off with water, and all these queens came raining down LOL

[William. T]

What is your patio made our? Mine are rectangular stones that get really hot...