6 replies to this topic

[DJoseph98]

I know Formica are supposed to be starting their flights about now or soon enough, so I was wondering how you guys found the ones you have. Night time walks or did you just happen on them randomly? Do they fly shortly after rain or wait a day? I'm hoping to catch some polygynous species native to Kentucky.

[CatsnAnts]

I found several last year (all during the day, and all afternoon to evening (about 1:00 - 9:00)). They all flew a day or two after rain, but never directly after it. I tended to find them all on concrete surfaces, such as my patio. I live in Indiana, so you may have different flight times, but Formica flew starting June 15 for me last year and continued till about July 10th. I haven’t seen any this year though, but I can almost garuntee that if you go outside in the evenings, you’ll DEFINITELY find some. Good luck!

Edited by CatsnAnts, June 23 2019 - 11:47 AM.

[DJoseph98]

Thanks! Where I'm at its been storming and raining for like a month (maybe a single dry day a week). We have a dry week coming up so I'll be out looking.

[CatsnAnts]

Thanks! Where I'm at its been storming and raining for like a month (maybe a single dry day a week). We have a dry week coming up so I'll be out looking.

I live in southern Indiana, we’ve been having that same storm and haven’t had but 1 dry day either

[Antsinmycloset]

I've found some Formica pallidefulva and F. fusca (I think?) queens the last couple years, and it always seemed to be primarily between 11AM and 1 PM with some stragglers afterwards. Like CantsnAnts said, it was usually a day or two after a rain, when things were still humid but there was no puddles remaining. I'm not sure how standard that is for other species, though.

Good luck. Formica queens hate light and vibrations more than any other genus I've had, so be prepared to give them some peace and quiet.

[DJoseph98]

I've found some Formica pallidefulva and F. fusca (I think?) queens the last couple years, and it always seemed to be primarily between 11AM and 1 PM with some stragglers afterwards. Like CantsnAnts said, it was usually a day or two after a rain, when things were still humid but there was no puddles remaining. I'm not sure how standard that is for other species, though.

Good luck. Formica queens hate light and vibrations more than any other genus I've had, so be prepared to give them some peace and quiet.

 

Thanks for all the advise! I'll definitely be using it now that I finally found one and posted for an ID. Here's a sneak peek

[RushmoreAnts]

I know Formica are supposed to be starting their flights about now or soon enough, so I was wondering how you guys found the ones you have. Night time walks or did you just happen on them randomly? Do they fly shortly after rain or wait a day? I'm hoping to catch some polygynous species native to Kentucky.

I just find them wandering along the pavement. They're quite conspicuous. From my experience, they also are some of the fastest queens around.