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Which ants are flying now in CA

Started By Swirlysnowflake , Oct 20 2020 12:15 PM

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43 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted October 20 2020 - 12:15 PM

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I know it is late in the year, but are any ants flying in California? I’ve had a pretty bad season so far, only found 2 infertile Prenolepis Imparis.


Edited by Swirlysnowflake, October 20 2020 - 2:31 PM.

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#2 Offline Manitobant - Posted October 20 2020 - 12:53 PM

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Solenopsis xyloni are still flying. I've heard of flights in late November and found a dealate in December.
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My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#3 Offline ZTYguy - Posted October 20 2020 - 1:29 PM

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You'll probabbly find (if any) just some late to the season colonies and I had an even worse season. I found some S. invicta thinking they were S. xyloni so I ended up just buying a few colonies.


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Currently: Considering moving to Australia
Reason: Myrmecia

#4 Offline ponerinecat - Posted October 20 2020 - 1:40 PM

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Cryptics. They tend to come out in the colder months and dealates are easier to find when there's moisture.


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#5 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted October 20 2020 - 2:30 PM

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Cryptics. They tend to come out in the colder months and dealates are easier to find when there's moisture.

What are cryptics?


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#6 Offline M_Ants - Posted October 20 2020 - 3:01 PM

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Can I get any cryptics on my blacklight?


Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

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#7 Offline ponerinecat - Posted October 20 2020 - 3:14 PM

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Can I get any cryptics on my blacklight?

Yes, I've had hypoponera show up and stigmatomma are known to come to lights (although I've only ever gotten males)


 

Cryptics. They tend to come out in the colder months and dealates are easier to find when there's moisture.

What are cryptics?

 

Specialized subterranean ants, usually quite small.


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#8 Offline M_Ants - Posted October 20 2020 - 3:16 PM

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What conditions should I look for? Normally I blacklight on nights when the heat and humidity jump up. That's not really happening anymore so....


Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about

#9 Offline SleepyAsianAnter - Posted October 20 2020 - 4:23 PM

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Most major flights are over, maybe acromyrmex later this month if you're willing to drive down to Joshua Tree at a moment's notice


#10 Offline M_Ants - Posted October 20 2020 - 6:04 PM

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I'm just wondering about cryptics.


Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about

#11 Offline ZTYguy - Posted October 20 2020 - 6:30 PM

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This page show good examples of cryptics https://www.alexande...g/Cryptic-Ants/


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Currently: Considering moving to Australia
Reason: Myrmecia

#12 Offline M_Ants - Posted October 20 2020 - 6:33 PM

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Anyone know about conditions for cryptic flights?


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Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about

#13 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted October 20 2020 - 6:56 PM

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Most major flights are over, maybe acromyrmex later this month if you're willing to drive down to Joshua Tree at a moment's notice

joshua tree as in the national park? sadly that is 7 hours away from me :(


Anyone know about conditions for cryptic flights?

I'm looking for this as well...

cryptic species do seem quite cool lol


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#14 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted October 20 2020 - 6:58 PM

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Can I get any cryptics on my blacklight?

Yes, I've had hypoponera show up and stigmatomma are known to come to lights (although I've only ever gotten males)

stigmatomma are flying now? like those small trap jaw like ants? what conditions for them to fly? I loveeee that species


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#15 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted October 20 2020 - 6:59 PM

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This page show good examples of cryptics https://www.alexande...g/Cryptic-Ants/

woahhhh those look so cool. i will now make it my mission to find some cryptic queens


 My YouTube channel :)

 

 

#16 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted October 21 2020 - 7:32 AM

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Can I get any cryptics on my blacklight?

Yes, I've had hypoponera show up and stigmatomma are known to come to lights (although I've only ever gotten males)ntomachus and Anochetus would be the North American Trap-Jaws.

I found these once, although it was a small colony, not a queen.


Edited by AntsDakota, October 21 2020 - 7:33 AM.

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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#17 Offline NickAnter - Posted October 21 2020 - 7:42 AM

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I find Cardiocondyla in late winter. Occasionally a Pheidole navigans queen as well. I only ever see cryptic flights in May, June, and July where I am.


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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#18 Offline Swirlysnowflake - Posted October 21 2020 - 12:24 PM

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I can’t believe I haven’t noticed this before, but in my 2 years of keeping/searching for ants, I have only found queens of Prenolepis imparis (7 over the years  :lol: ) The only other ants I have, I've purchased. I really need to catch some other species lol


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#19 Offline Spazmops - Posted October 21 2020 - 1:21 PM

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I can’t believe I haven’t noticed this before, but in my 2 years of keeping/searching for ants, I have only found queens of Prenolepis imparis (7 over the years  :lol: ) The only other ants I have, I've purchased. I really need to catch some other species lol

Wish I could catch some P. imparis. I really want M. mexicanus, but I might have to be content with false honeypots. 


Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server. 

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 

#20 Offline DDD101DDD - Posted October 21 2020 - 1:22 PM

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This page show good examples of cryptics https://www.alexande...g/Cryptic-Ants/

woahhhh those look so cool. i will now make it my mission to find some cryptic queens

 

Keep in mind that most of these ants are like 2-3mm long and eat only special foods.


Edited by DDD101DDD, October 21 2020 - 1:26 PM.

He travels, he seeks the p a r m e s a n.

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