Found some small mountain flights of Camponotus vicinus and a common Formica species at around 5000 feet last night. Which means the higher elevation colonies such as C. modoc should be about 2-4 weeks out from their first fights due the snowpack. Still waiting for the valley to get over 80 f to find some queens closer to home. Also pictured below is a different species of Formica and Myrmica sp. at 7000 ft. Any ideas on the species?
Time of flights: 9-10 PM
Temperature in the valley: high of 79 and low of 53.
Slight rain day before
Wind was 5 mph
Found a couple Camponotus vicinus queens
Several of these Formica queens were flying and making their founding chambers. Saw a couple drones as well.
Multi-queen Formica colony, no brood was seen on the surface.
Myrmica sp? Lots of larvae about to pupate found in each nest, regardless of elevation. Most of the colonies were between 5500 and 6500 feet.
Not pictured were the dozens of Lasius colonies I came across. Brood development was dependant on elevation.