Hi all,
Just joined as the whole stay at home thing has me looking for more insects easy to study around the yard rather than out and about, so I decided on ants. Plus my son loves them, too!
I'm an entomologist but, not an ant specialist. I hope to learn quickly.
So far, have a number of incipient colonies of Formica (pallidefulva and maybe incerta), Temnothorax curvispinosus and pergandei, several Pheidole species (these are a pain to ID!), Camponotus, and some various other ants to learn about. I'm surprised at the diversity I am finding just in the backyard considering I live in a fairly developed suburban area!
For the most part I nab queens at the blacklight but the Formica and Camponotus I have found out and about on the sidewalk, etc. I keep track of the flight dates so if anyone wants to know, happy to share.
Best,
~Jon