1666 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Out in the Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree National Park, Pheidole xerophila and Myrmecocystus mexicanus flew in the evening and night of 8-3-2014. Myrmecocystus mimicus (I think) cf. placodops and Acromyrmex versicolor flew early the next morning. Pheidole desertorum, Camponotus fragilis (I think), Myrmecocystus navajo, and Dorymyrmex bicolor sp. also flew while we were out there.

[Crystals]

Alberta Canada had a small Formica podzolica flight yesterday.  A lot more alates in the nests just waiting.

[MrILoveTheAnts]

While attending Ants of the Southwest, we collected several Odontomachus clarus, Myrmecocystus mexicanus, assorted Pheidole queens I can't ID at this time, and several Neivamyrmex males to species I can't ID because dissecting ant genitals is beyond me.

[Gregory2455]

Ants of the Southwest

 

What?

[dspdrew]

What?

 

http://research.amnh.../ants-southwest

[MrILoveTheAnts]

Yeah it's a 10 day course out in Airzona. I highly recommend it! However, I believe they're not doing it next year because the actual Ant Course will be held there.

 

Ant Course is the main course that focuses heavily on Taxonomy and is moved around the world each year, with it being in Arizona every 3 years. On the years it's not in Arizona, the course "Ants of the Southwest" is held there which focuses more on biology and field work.

 

I liked it so much that I think I'll apply to Ant Course next year.

[dspdrew]

It seemed like you guys were gone so much longer than 10 days.

[Crystals]

Athabasca, Alberta (Canada) found a small Lasius queen walking around at 6:30am.  Yesterday, the Lasius nests I checked were packed full of alates (no cocoons left).

I expect them to fly very soon.

 

Had another decent sized flight of Formica podzolica yesterday as well.

[dermy]

Your lucky I still haven't seen one flight yet this year, maybe I slept through them all. Hopefully the Formica fly soon, Lasius around here seem to like to fly late August/Early September, don't know if that's normal but it seems to happen every year in the fall.

[dspdrew]

As far as I know, Lasius are one of the last to fly, along with Crematogaster.

[Gregory2455]

Well Crematogaster already flew in Simi Valley so it looks my anting season is over...

[dspdrew]

More Myrmecocystus navajo and Pogonomyrmex rugosus flights took place again in the high desert near Lucerne Valley, CA Wednesday. Also, another smaller, very dark brown species of Myrmecocystus also flew, possibly M. yuma.

[Gregory2455]

I can imagine they flew yesterday and today too after that massive thunder storm.

Edited by Gregory2455, August 22 2014 - 3:18 PM.

[dspdrew]

Nope. What did fly Friday morning was Acromyrmex again. I got me a few more queens to see how many of them end up having their fungus.

[Crystals]

Lasius neoniger is flying by the millions in Athabasca, Alberta (Canada).

[Gregory2455]

Wow.

[Gregory2455]

What time do Prenolepis imparis fly? I always forget if it is very very late or very very early in the anting season.

Edited by Gregory2455, August 28 2014 - 3:30 PM.

[dspdrew]

Very early. Sometimes in places like Southern California, they can fly as early as January.

[Gregory2455]

Ohhhhhh... ok then, so no more flights this year... Looking forward to them in January though. 

Also can't wait for Camponotus and Messor...

[Gregory2455]

What about Linepithema humile? I don't really want to keep such an invasive species, but when do they fly?