Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Queen Ant Spotting/Mating Chart

anting mating queens swarming alates mating flight nuptial flight

  • Please log in to reply
1666 replies to this topic

#361 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 8 2016 - 2:57 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

The database is now up to 2,300 lines of data. :)


  • Subverted and LC3 like this

#362 Offline Crystals - Posted March 8 2016 - 5:46 PM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,049 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

The database is now up to 2,300 lines of data. :)

Do you ever plan to add Formica ulkei or Aphaenogaster occidentalis to the list?  I know I have sightings listed for them.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#363 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 8 2016 - 8:02 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

I have four records for Formica ulkei, and six for Aphaenogaster occidentalis.



#364 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 20 2016 - 1:30 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Looks like some ants had their mating flights after the last rain, or possibly just before that, and they were flushed out of their nests and forced to dig new ones. I'm not really sure. All I know is I dug a few of them up.

 

Species: Veromessor pergandei, Myrmecocystus mimicus, Pheidole cf. barbata

Location: Pinon Hills, California

Date: 3-20-2016

Time:

Temperature:

Humidity:

Wind:

Rain: Recent rain.



#365 Offline klawfran3 - Posted March 21 2016 - 7:48 PM

klawfran3

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 256 posts

Do you guys think there might be anything tomorrow or wednesday in Griffith park? I'm going to be in the area then so I'd like to spend a little time anting. I'm just afraid it's going to be all argentines like a couple other places I've been. Anyone been there before?


This message brought to you by the Committee for the Education of Folks who Describe Arthropod Taxa as 'Not Interesting' (CEFDATNI)

#366 Offline dspdrew - Posted March 22 2016 - 7:22 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

I have no idea what is in those hills.



#367 Offline PTAntFan - Posted March 22 2016 - 11:23 AM

PTAntFan

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 495 posts
  • LocationBurbank, CA

Doubtful.   I live nearby and I've never seen anything interesting there.


PTAntFan----------------------------------Pogonomyrmex Californicus*****************************<p>I use the $3 Tower I made up. See it here.

#368 Offline Vendayn - Posted March 25 2016 - 1:55 PM

Vendayn

    Advanced Member

  • Banned
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,981 posts
  • LocationOrange County, California

I saw a Solenopsis invicta female alate roaming outside their mound, and trying to fly (dunno if she ever took off). I think they fly more in the early evening, so she probably went back into the colony.

 

Guess close enough to April for them to start their mating flights. Especially with how hot it is today in Southern California.



#369 Offline yen_saw - Posted April 15 2016 - 4:17 AM

yen_saw

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 149 posts
  • LocationHouston

Atta texana flew yesterday!!!

 

Species: Atta texana

Location: Spring, Texas

Date: 4-14-2016

Time: Nest clearing noted evening of 4/13/16. Flight occurred during midnight. Swarm noticed morning 7 am on 4/14/2016

Temperature: 63F in the morning of 4/14/2016

Humidity: 90%

Wind: 6 mph

Rain: 4-13-2016 (midnight till late morning)


  • dspdrew, Gregory2455 and kellakk like this

#370 Offline Vendayn - Posted April 16 2016 - 6:25 PM

Vendayn

    Advanced Member

  • Banned
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,981 posts
  • LocationOrange County, California

I saw a Solenopsis molesta queen. I didn't keep her, but they appear to be flying now and they fly all season till Fall. They are pretty tiny species, but can make big colonies. I find they escape really easily, but other than that they are easy to raise. They do best when you keep a whole bunch of them together.


Edited by Vendayn, April 16 2016 - 6:46 PM.


#371 Offline Bryce - Posted April 17 2016 - 2:35 PM

Bryce

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 101 posts
  • LocationPhoenix Az
Saturday with my black light set up I was a little surprised. I caught 6 Apheanogaster sp queens. We did have rain Wedsday for the first time in 3 months. I setup every night after rain and nothing, but the Bracys, and Phoidole. I put them in test tubes. My thought is there are not furtile I didn't catch any males, i almost always do. Or the mate on the sheet and drop their wings.We know soon. Temp. 68 ,humidity 33% clear skies light wind. Caught in my back yard, desert.

#372 Offline Mdrogun - Posted April 17 2016 - 2:48 PM

Mdrogun

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 943 posts
  • LocationGainesville, FL

I saw a small Tetramorium nuptial flight today in the morning. It was our first 80+ degree day this year.


Currently Keeping:
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis

Pheidole pilifera

Forelius sp. (Monogynous, bicolored) "Midwestern Forelius"
Crematogaster cerasi

Pheidole bicarinata

Aphaenogaster rudis

Camponotus chromaiodes

Formica sp. (microgena species)

Nylanderia cf. arenivega


#373 Offline LC3 - Posted April 18 2016 - 3:03 PM

LC3

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,323 posts
  • LocationBC, Canada

Species: Camponotus modoc

Location: Richmond, BC, Canada

Date: April 18 2016

Time: Around 12PM

Temperature: 27° C

Humidity: 53% 

Wind: 8 km/h

Rain: Been raining for practically all of last week, no rain since Saturday or so.

 

IMG_12971_zpsartoz85g.jpg

 

IMG_12991_zpsab669x6v.jpg

 

IMG_12981_zpstjsyo81w.jpg

 

Caught 6 queens, 2 dealates 4 alates, one shed it's wings inside that plastic box.

I didn't witness them fly but there were a lot just flying aimlessly around. Last Friday I also found a male, which died shortly after I found it.

 

Male:

 

IMG_13001_zpssvjyv7tn.jpg

 

 

 

 

IMG_13021_zps1bcvzvaa.jpg


Edited by LC3, April 18 2016 - 3:04 PM.

  • dspdrew likes this

#374 Offline Crystals - Posted April 20 2016 - 8:16 AM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,049 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

We have been breaking heat records for the last 2 weeks.  Feels like the end of May outside.

 

Species: Camponotus herculeanus

Location: Athabasca, AB, Canada

Date: April 18, 2016 & April 19, 2016

Time: 3-8pm

Temperature: 27° C (80F)

Humidity: 25% 

Wind: 20 km/h gusting to 40

Rain: No rain for past 2 weeks

 

Saw about 12 queens total over those 2 days.  As opposed to the usual flight of hundreds that are normally seen mid-May.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies


#375 Offline dermy - Posted April 20 2016 - 2:12 PM

dermy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationCanada

We have been breaking heat records for the last 2 weeks.  Feels like the end of May outside.

 

Species: Camponotus herculeanus

Location: Athabasca, AB, Canada

Date: April 18, 2016 & April 19, 2016

Time: 3-8pm

Temperature: 27° C (80F)

Humidity: 25% 

Wind: 20 km/h gusting to 40

Rain: No rain for past 2 weeks

 

Saw about 12 queens total over those 2 days.  As opposed to the usual flight of hundreds that are normally seen mid-May.

Well if it happens there I better go outside these next few days and make sure I don't miss anything here :lol: and I was so content on staying indoors too :| oh well.



#376 Offline LC3 - Posted April 20 2016 - 2:21 PM

LC3

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,323 posts
  • LocationBC, Canada

Species: Camponotus sp.  Possibly Hurculeanus   novaeboracensis

Location: Richmond, BC, Canada

Date: April 18 2016

Time: Around 3:30 PM

Temperature: 27° C (outside)

Humidity: 53% (outside)

Wind: 8km/h (outside)

Rain: Been raining for practically all of last week, no rain since Saturday or so.

 

A friend of mine told me that Camponotus flew indoors inside this little building, swarming a light bulb by the dozens. I found a lot of males and one alate queen. I''m assuming the building is a satellite nest of theirs. Anyways it is the only red Camponotus I've seen here and sadly the exterminators got there first :*(

 

 

How interesting, 3 different flights of Camponotus in Canada in the same span of time. 


Edited by LC3, August 1 2018 - 9:27 PM.


#377 Offline dermy - Posted April 20 2016 - 3:40 PM

dermy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationCanada

Now I really better be alert... I'm guessing in a few days maybe a week or two at most I should also get a "mini-flight" of some Camponotus.


Edited by dermy, April 20 2016 - 3:41 PM.


#378 Offline dermy - Posted May 2 2016 - 11:15 AM

dermy

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,392 posts
  • LocationCanada

May 2/2016 12:09pm

Species: Camponotus herculeanus

Where: Central Saskatchewan

Weather: 23c

Humidity: 20%

Wind: 10k an hour [not even that here]

Rain: none yet this year, it's been like California outside

 

I found probably 30+ queens, not the usual amount, usually the whole area is just covered, I bet they will start flying more at like 3-4pm.


  • LC3 likes this

#379 Offline noebl1 - Posted May 3 2016 - 6:59 AM

noebl1

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,133 posts
  • LocationNorthern Massachusetts

Last week of April

Species: Lasius Umbratus

Where: Northern Massachusetts near Nashua, NH

Weather:  mid 50s F during the day, 30s at night

Rain: Dry for several days straight

 

Not so sure they are nuptial flights, but spotted several of the Lasius Umbratus queens wandering around the driveway.  Saw 6 this Sunday afternoon alone in a very short period. Spotted the largest amount around 3pm Sunday, but have seen them this week in the evenings after work.



#380 Offline Crystals - Posted May 3 2016 - 12:52 PM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,049 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

As anyone in northen Canada likely knows if they went outside, Camponotus herculeanus flew by the thousands.  Sunday they were falling out of the sky like rain between 4:30-6pm.

At one point we looked at the white deck and in a 10 foot by 10 foot section there were at least 50 queens.  Inside the tin shed, it sounded like a light hail.  :D

Saw a few flying today as well.

 

Species: Camponotus herculeanus

Location: Athabasca, AB, Canada

Date: May 1, 2016 & May 2, 2016

Time: 3-8pm

Temperature: 27-29° C (80F)

Humidity: 25% 

Wind: occasional light breeze

Rain: No rain for past 4 weeks


  • dermy and LC3 like this

"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies






Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: anting, mating, queens, swarming, alates, mating flight, nuptial flight

2 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 2 guests, 0 anonymous users