1666 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

Species: Camponotus clarithorax, C. essigi, C. vicinus, Camponotus sp., C. laevigatus, C. maritimus, Liometopum occidentale
Location: Altadena, California
Date:  3-31-2018
Time: 9:00 PM

Temperature: 67 F
Humidity:
Wind: None
Rain: Recent rain

 

Species: Myrmecocystus tenuinodis, M. testaceus
Location: Cajon, California
Date:  4-1-2018
Time:

Temperature:
Humidity:
Wind:
Rain: Recent rain

 

Species: Veromessor pergandei
Location: Phelan, California
Date:  4-1-2018
Time:

Temperature:
Humidity:
Wind:
Rain: Recent rain

 

Species: Myrmecocystus spp., Veromessor pergandei, Pogonomyrmex rugosus
Location: Landcaster, California
Date:  4-1-2018
Time:

Temperature:
Humidity:
Wind:
Rain: Recent rain

 

And yes, Pogonomyrmex rugosus actually flew. I found one queen crawling around and dug another one out of a founding chamber. I have no idea what they are doing flying in March. Until now, I've never seen them fly before July.

[MrILoveTheAnts]

Took these on Friday. They didn't actually take off but I took pictures and you will look at them Dammit!

[Connectimyrmex]

I spotted a foraging Myrmica rubra worker carrying a live Camponotus male by the head today...

[nurbs]

Species: Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus sansabeanus, Camponotus quercicola, Liometopum occidentale
Location: Gabrieleno Trail, San Fernando Valley, California
Date:  3-30-2018
Time: 9:00pm -12am

Temperature: 67 F
Humidity:
Wind: None
Rain: Recent rain past 7 days

[nurbs]

Here are some images and video of the Myrmecocystus sp. from Lancaster and the unidentified Camponotus sp. from Altadena.

 

Have a mature colony of the unidentified Camponotus (with a major, no less!) from last season also from Altadena. I asked Drew about it last

year because it was just too shiny to be a black C. vicinus. Drew scoped the one he found and says it is not from the Camponotus subgenus.

 

He wants me to kill one of my majors so he can ID 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Species: Camponotus clarithorax, C. essigi, C. vicinus, C. sansabeanus, C. quercicola, Camponotus sp., Liometopum occidentale
Location: Altadena, California
Date:  3-31-2018
Time: 9:00 PM

Temperature: 67 F
Humidity:
Wind: None
Rain: Recent rain

 

Species: Myrmecocystus tenuinodis, M. testaceus
Location: Cajon, California
Date:  4-1-2018
Time:

Temperature:
Humidity:
Wind:
Rain: Recent rain

 

Species: Veromessor pergandei
Location: Phelan, California
Date:  4-1-2018
Time:

Temperature:
Humidity:
Wind:
Rain: Recent rain

 

Species: Myrmecocystus spp., Veromessor pergandei, Pogonomyrmex rugosus
Location: Landcaster, California
Date:  4-1-2018
Time:

Temperature:
Humidity:
Wind:
Rain: Recent rain

 

And yes, Pogonomyrmex rugosus actually flew. I found one queen crawling around and dug another one out of a founding chamber. I have no idea what they are doing flying in March. Until now, I've never seen them fly before July.

 

[AnthonyP163]

Took these on Friday. They didn't actually take off but I took pictures and you will look at them Dammit!

What was the temperature?

[MrILoveTheAnts]

That day it was about 68F out which seems to be the threshold for queens to emerge from the nests. Ideally it would be above 72F or up to 75F or so to have a good flight of them.

[Ants4fun]

Neivamyrmex swainsonii males have been flying throughout southern Texas. I've seen quite a few the past week, with varying temps, humidity, and rain.

[anttics]

Species: Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus sansabeanus, Camponotus quercicola, Liometopum occidentale
Location: Gabrieleno Trail, San Fernando Valley, California
Date: 3-30-2018
Time: 9:00pm -12am
Temperature: 67 F
Humidity:
Wind: None
Rain: Recent rain past 7 days

what the hell. I pride my self in knowing all hiking spots with good species in my hometown San Fernando valley. I did not know about this spot. I also check ant canyon. has many species but it's a small canyon it's close to San Fernando valley

[Scrixx]

Species: Camponotus sansabeanus, Solenopsis sp., Myrmecocystus testaceus

Location: Mt. Baldy, CA at Icehouse Canyon
Date: 06 April 2018
Time: 10:00 PM
Temperature: 58 F
Humidity:  27%
Wind: None
Rain: 

https://www.wundergr...20180409/mdaily

[Vuldriel]

On 4/9/2018 around 3:40 I caught a Solenopsis Invicta queen in the suburbs of Jacksonville, FL after it had rained for a couple of days on a relatively hot evening if that information is useful. I know Invicta queens are caught almost year-round. 

[T.C.]

Species: Selenopsis invicta
Location: Kissimmee, Florida
Date: 12 April 2018
Time: 4:00 PM
Temperature: 85 F
Humidity: unknown
Wind: 5 MPH
Rain: Two days prior

Largest flight of any species I have ever seen. Queens covered the ground and the surface of the pool. If kids pay what I think they will for the species, I could have been a rich man selling these.

[123LordOfAnts123]

Species: Selenopsis invicta
Location: Kissimmee, Florida
Date: 12 April 2018
Time: 4:00 PM
Temperature: 85 F
Humidity: unknown
Wind: 5 MPH
Rain: Two days prior
Largest flight of any species I have ever seen. Queens covered the ground and the surface of the pool. If kids pay what I think they will for the species, I could have been a rich man selling these.

On the east coast strong winds sometimes blow entire flights out to sea. Eventually the alates are brought back on the waves, sometimes forming a thick mat composed of millions of dead queens and males, a sight that can be seen for miles. Having witnessed such a phenomenon several times brings good perspective on just how prolific the species is when it comes to reproduction.

One slight plus is that many creatures enjoy eating the fat-rich queens. I have a gallon zip-lock bag full of them in the freezer. Captive Pogonomyrmex and Dorymyrmex are particularly fond of them.

Edited by 123LordOfAnts123, April 13 2018 - 7:12 AM.

[Bracchymyrmex]

Species: Prenolepis imparis
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Date: 4/12/18
Time: 2:40 - 3:20 PM 
Temperature: 70° F
Humidity: unknown 
Wind: 5 MPH 
Rain: A sprinkle an hour prior 

[Aaron567]

First Pheidole of the year.

Species: Pheidole bicarinata
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Date: April 13, 2018
Time: 8:00 PM
Temperature: 74° F
Humidity: 88%
Wind: 8 mph
Rain: No recent rain

Edited by Aaron567, April 14 2018 - 8:28 AM.

[Bracchymyrmex]

Species: Prenolepis imparis (x6)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Date: 4/13/18
Time: 3:20 - 4:00 PM 
Temperature: 80° F
Humidity: unknown 
Wind: unknown
Rain: A sprinkle in the morning around 8:00 AM

[Aaron567]

Species: Nylanderia faisonensis, Ponera pennsylvanica
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Date: 4/15/18
Time: 2:00 PM
Temperature: 64° F
Humidity: 38%
Wind: 14 mph
Rain: Thunderstorm the night before

 

Note: I found both of these queens underneath pieces of wood, so they most likely flew a few days ago when it wasn't as cold, dry, and windy as it is today.

Edited by Aaron567, April 15 2018 - 1:57 PM.

[ztechnoid]

Species: prenolopsis imparis 

Location: New Haven, Connecticut

Tempature: 63F

Humidity: Starting to drop after torrential rain a couple of days ago

Time: 1:05 PM

 

Huge swarm of mating elates spotted on log over small stream while i was mountain biking. Was able to handle a few winged queens to identify but had no means of collecting them. went back later to see nothing but wings and dead male elates could not locate any queens to capture.

[Aaron567]

Species: Brachymyrmex patagonicus, Pheidole bicarinata
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Date: April 18, 2018
Time: 8:00 PM
Temperature: 70° F
Humidity: 84%
Wind: 9 mph
Rain: 3 days ago

 

Big B. patagonicus flights and a few P. bicarinata. Looks like tonight may be the kickoff for the 5-month-long nightly flights of these two species.

[Rattus]

Rough "chart" DK/Europe, which only shows SOME of the species living there.

 

Ref. https://www.fugleogn...r&familieID=291

Attached Files

•  DKMatingAndActivity.pdf   72.92KB   104 downloads

Edited by Rattus, May 8 2018 - 3:33 AM.