21 replies to this topic

[RushmoreAnts]

Solenopsis molesta and Lasius claviger.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Trachymyrmex septentrionalis, Strumigenys louisianae, and Pogonomyrex badius.

[RushmoreAnts]

Also found Stigmatomma pallipes once. No records, but actually that's my favorite if it's native.

Edited by AntsDakota, January 6 2020 - 3:44 PM.

[TheMicroPlanet]

Ponera pennsylvanica, Prenolepis imparis, Strumigenys spp., Pheidole spp.

[TheMicroPlanet]

Unfortunately, none of the Strumigenys here are the ones with the Odontomachus-like jaws. They're still cool ants though.

[RushmoreAnts]

Ponera's pretty common here, just extremely elusive. I've found dozens of workers foraging under objects. I crave the latter three, though.

[TheMicroPlanet]

P. imparis should be flying here soon (I hope). Weather conditions are starting to look good and I have at least 2 (possibly 3) colonies in my backyard at this moment!

[RushmoreAnts]

Looking forward to journals!

[ponerinecat]

Strumigenys spp, Stigmatomma pallipes and oregonense, Cyphomyrmex spp (wheeleri, and flavidus has been found before in far south areas,) Syscia augustae, Dolopomyrmex pilatus, Pheidole hyatti, vistana, and desertorum, Pseudomyrmex apache and pallidus, and Stenamma spp.

Edited by ponerinecat, January 6 2020 - 4:15 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Trachymyrmex septentrionalis (possibly Cyphomyrmex rimosus, even though they're not native and haven't been described in Tennessee yet), Neivamyrmex nigrescens, carolinensis, Colobopsis impressa, obliqua, mississippiensis, Pseudomyrmex pallidus and Crematogaster lineolata, cerasi and ashmeadi.

[Manitobant]

Polyergus mexicanus by a mile. I know this is gonna be controversial, but I'm hoping to dig up a small colony since they're extremely common here and I wanna perform some myrmecological experiments relating to what species of formica they will accept.

[Martialis]

I like the cryptic species.

[EthanNgo678]

Native pheidole

[NickAnter]

Probably the Formica perpilosa 

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They are the nicest looking ants for probably 20 miles from my house(in my opinion).  Then would be the orange Hypoponera I find in my backyard. And then Strumigenys species I found one alate queen of in my pool last July.

Edited by NickAnter, January 6 2020 - 7:54 PM.

[ponerinecat]

I like the cryptic species.

yes. yes. yes. yes.

[OhNoNotAgain]

P. imparis because they kick Argentine butt.

[ANTdrew]

Any Crematogaster species for sure.

[Vendayn]

Native ants to my area, hahaha, what are those?

Edited by Vendayn, January 9 2020 - 7:39 PM.

[ponerinecat]

Native ants to my area, hahaha, what are those?

Argentines or invicta?

[Vendayn]

 

Native ants to my area, hahaha, what are those?

Argentines or invicta?

 

Almost. There are 4 major contenders.

 

Argentine ants as far as the eye can see.

 

Solenopsis invicta randomly, though did great toward end of summer. They are 3rd most populated ant, though that will probably change later this year to become 2nd. They had so many alates that one of the pools got clogged up and they had to completely drain it with how many alates there were. They drove out the argentine ants in a huge area down in the wilderness part, and had no sign of stopping until it got to winter.

 

Brachymyrmex patagonicus that actually drive out any tiny/similar sized ant, and are also currently the 2nd most numerous ant around here. They even drive out the argentine ants in some areas. They never grow though or spread out of what they already have, pretty stable.

 

Pheidole megacephala, grew quite a bit last year though think this year they will stagnate. They drove out the argentine ants in a couple areas but got held back/driven off in other areas. 4th most populated ant, and least likely to be successful. If the pheidole do by chance beat the argentine ants, the solenopsis invicta grew a TON more than they did this year. The solenopsis invicta would outcompete pheidole megacephala here. Plus, I don't see them doing that great since all the areas they can expand to are dominated by argentine ants and the argentine ants held them back and very slightly beat in key areas. Their expansion will remain extremely limited and only can expand into heavy population of argentine ant territory. However since I'm moving this year who knows what they'll do during their peak months of july/august. I just don't see them being successful against hordes of argentine ants, though I guess solenopsis invicta managed to do it.

 

There used to be Pogonomyrmex californicus, but they got killed by construction+landscaping=prime argentine ant habitat. Same thing happened with the Solenopsis xyloni, they used to be here but they landscaped the area they were in and argentine ants moved in killing them. Used to be Dorymyrmex bicolor I could get to, took a good 2 hour walk to reach them, but they built a housing neighborhood above them and argentine ants moved in.

 

So literally as far as I can walk, no native ants. Hopefully where I move has better ants than stupidly annoying argentine ants and solenopsis invicta lol.

Edited by Vendayn, January 9 2020 - 11:49 PM.