People in SoCal are in easy driving distance to a lot of awesome ants, like honeypots, one species of leafcutter, and all sorts of other desert ants that don't need diapause. You're in a great place to get started, and the Cali community is loud and active. (Though granted, a sizeable number are still in school so they are fairly quiet right now.)
Formiculture Journals::
Veromessor pergandei, andrei; Novomessor cockerelli
Camponotus fragilis; also separate journal: Camponotus sansabeanus (inactive), vicinus, laevigatus/quercicola
Liometopum occidentale; Prenolepis imparis; Myrmecocystus mexicanus (inactive)
Pogonomyrmex subnitidus and californicus (inactive)
Tetramorium sp.
Termites: Zootermopsis angusticollis
Isopods: A. gestroi, granulatum, kluugi, maculatum, vulgare; C. murina; P. hoffmannseggi, P. haasi, P. ornatus; V. parvus
Spoods: Phidippus sp.