3 replies to this topic

[MrOdontomachus]

I've spent hours sitting near trachymyrmex nests waiting for them to fly, only for the alates to come out of the nest, run around, and then go back in without flying. This goes on from 12 to 8 pm. 

 

When they came up above ground, I took this as a sign they were about to fly. What time of day or night do they actually leave the nest and mate?

[TennesseeAnts]

I've spent hours sitting near trachymyrmex nests waiting for them to fly, only for the alates to come out of the nest, run around, and then go back in without flying. This goes on from 12 to 8 pm. 

 

When they came up above ground, I took this as a sign they were about to fly. What time of day or night do they actually leave the nest and mate?

I think they fly about noon, but I'm not sure.

[123LordOfAnts123]

Alates are typically released in the late afternoon, 3pm-6pm, on hot and humid (preferably overcast) days. Alates congregate and mate in specific locations, such as under a particularly tall tree, shady overhang, or small clearing. Queens shed and dig their founding chambers in spots that usually have shade (or shade nearby) provided by hardwoods trees such as oak, which provide them with preferred fungus growing mediums such as oak catkins and caterpillar frass. Random founding queens can be found in a lot of sandy places but in certain “hotspots” several dozen queens can dig their founding chambers in very close proximity.

In Central Florida the largest and most concentrated flights take place in late May up until early June, though smaller flights can occur as late as August.

Edited by 123LordOfAnts123, June 20 2020 - 5:16 PM.

[MrOdontomachus]

Where I am colonies have hundreds of alates so I think flights are still going strong.

 

So I should look earlier in the day then. I was there from 6pm-8pm and no alates flew even though they came above ground. 

I'll go earlier next time, I am incredibly determined to get a trachymyrmex queen for some reason. I NEED to keep an attine, they're so cool. Observing them in the nest would be even better.

Edited by MrOdontomachus, June 20 2020 - 7:52 PM.