9 replies to this topic

[CampoKing]

I may be looking at the wrong time of year, but I'm curious if a small Atta colony (or group of founding Queens) is available in the Houston area. I've been very patiently studying the needs of the genus & I feel I'm ready to make a serious long-term attempt to keep a colony of leafcutters.

I don't know what a reasonable price will be, so I'm happy to discuss the details with any members who are offering or previously offered these ants. Cheers.

[TechAnt]

I believe all colonies are out of founding and are in a small/medium size colony stage. So if you manage to find a Atta seller, it’d likely not be founding queens. Best of luck on finding Atta.

[CheetoLord02]

Soon. Atta texana are some of the earliest fliers, starting as early as February. Nobody will have any queens now, but in just a few months people will start catching more.

[antsandmore]

wow! February is very soon.

[SoySauce]

Do Atta need more humidity? I’m curious why they haven’t spread more west towards the deserts of AZ, NV and CA???

[TennesseeAnts]

Do Atta need more humidity? I’m curious why they haven’t spread more west towards the deserts of AZ, NV and CA???

They are found in AZ, but most of CA and all of NV are far too cold to have any native populations of Atta.

[CheetoLord02]

Atta mexicana is the only species of Atta that can stomach a drier climate, and even then the southwest US is largely too dry still. They only have two miniscule populations in Southern Arizona, and the more studied population at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is shrinking in size, and may be entirely extinct within the next few decades. The species as a whole is still fine in most of their range, but the US populations are struggling. Them spreading further in to the US is essentially impossible.

[nurbs]

Do Atta need more humidity? I’m curious why they haven’t spread more west towards the deserts of AZ, NV and CA???

 

 

Atta texana needs a crap ton of humidity. I used to live in Texas and they would fly at the height of summer in Houston, one of the most humid places in the Universe. My guess is other Attas are similar or the same. 

[PurdueEntomology]

When I lived in Sugarland/Spring (Greater Houston Area) I found that the A.texana had their nuptial flights the first week of May after the first large rain, their flights were definitely underway at 8pm to later. I would generally, just knowing it was the first week of May and it had rained found that mating flights would occur that evening after the rain. The alate females are definitely attracted to lights: parking lots etc., so,  be careful that if you collect from those locations they may NOT be mated. 

Edited by PurdueEntomology, December 22 2020 - 4:27 AM.

[Vendayn]

I think despite their humidity requirements (the hardest part, but not that hard), Atta seem to have far more success than Acromyrmex do. Maybe cause they are more popular to keep in places that can import them, but even among those who import Acromyrmex there isn't really any success with them. By success I mean 5+ years (think saw one that got to 7 years old and then they died for no apparent reason) or even 10+ years that I've seen people's Atta colonies get in age.

Edited by Vendayn, December 22 2020 - 8:05 AM.