7 replies to this topic

[antgallery]

I've never heard of ANY ant's flying this late in the year before, (In Missouri at least.) But while I was on a hike today I actually found multiple queens so it seems that they are in fact, having their nuptial flights in late December. Is it normal for this species to fly so late? I feel like I normally find them in March.

[ANTdrew]

Lasius parasites love to fly in the cold. It makes it easier for them to invade hibernating nests of hosts. I’ve found alates out on New Year’s Day even.

[antgallery]

Oh wow! I did not know that. Thank you for the reply!

[madbiologist]

Lasius umbratus is actually the European species. What you are most likely seeing is Lasius aphidicola queens. While aphidicola don't fly at this time of year, on warm days in winter/early spring they can often be found wandering in search of a host colony. Sometimes they are so common it resembles a flight!

[Manitobant]

Could they actually be lasius claviger? I’ve never heard of an aphidicola flight this late, however claviger will sometimes fly into early January in the south.

[antsriondel]

Could they actually be lasius claviger? I’ve never heard of an aphidicola flight this late, however claviger will sometimes fly into early January in the south.

maybe..............

[madbiologist]

Could they actually be lasius claviger? I’ve never heard of an aphidicola flight this late, however claviger will sometimes fly into early January in the south.

 

Well it has been much too cold for flights, so there's no way it could have been a flight. However, it has occasionally been warm enough for miscellaneous aphidicola queens to be wandering in search of hosts.

[OiledOlives]

 

Could they actually be lasius claviger? I’ve never heard of an aphidicola flight this late, however claviger will sometimes fly into early January in the south.

 

Well it has been much too cold for flights, so there's no way it could have been a flight. However, it has occasionally been warm enough for miscellaneous aphidicola queens to be wandering in search of hosts.

 

There have been reports of claviger flying on the 29th, so it's definitely possible.

 

Edit: Sorry, not the 29th, but the 25th. 

Below is a link of the most recent claviger observations (All 3 most recent ones are evidence of flights)
https://www.inatural...taxon_id=222712

Edited by OiledOlives, January 4 2022 - 12:47 PM.