10 replies to this topic

[Ottercl]

Hi,

I was wondering what time of day Formica Subsericea fly? I know they are flying right now in MA because I found a nest with drones, but don’t know the time of day.

Thanks

[Manitobant]

I usually find queens in the afternoon around 4-6pm.

[Ottercl]

So I should probably be looking right now

[AntBoi3030]

I’m worried I missed the flights I haven’t found a single one but I’ve found palidifulva and aserva

[Ottercl]

Same with me

[AntsMaryland]

I have seen them actually fly from their nests at around 11:30 am at 79 degrees F.

[AntBoi3030]

I have seen them actually fly from their nests at around 11:30 am at 79 degrees F.

Interesting, they should fly soon if they haven’t already.

[jplelito]

Formica incerta/pallidefulva/dolosa fly first in the season for me in central NC, sometimes as early as early June (not this year though); subsericea may have early flights at the same time as those other species but the biggest flights of subsericea in my area are usually 1-2 weeks after the pallidefulva group (the latter are done here now I believe, and we may only have one or two more subsericea flights; there have been 5-6 already).  I see subsericea flying from the nests never later than late morning, and usually more like 9-10 AM if the temperature is already in the 70s (to the comment above about 79, sometimes we get overnight lows of 76-78 so 79 can happen easily at 8-9 AM or so if the sun is out, yuck).  I then find dealates from 11 am - as late as 4 PM but the best flights, on the warmest days, usually yield dealated females 12-1 PM peak time.  Happy hunting!  

[AntBoi3030]

Thanks! That’s very helpful

[AntBoi3030]

They’re just starting to fly down here so it’ll likely be a few days until you get
Flights

Edited by AntBoi3030, July 24 2021 - 10:48 AM.

[Ottercl]

Ok, Thanks

I flipped up a rock and found several drones, so it should only be a few days