37 replies to this topic

[antsriondel]

Hello, this is a topic for Canadian Ant Keepers to share all of their colonies, Anting spots, etc. 

Edited by antsriondel, March 20 2023 - 5:05 PM.

[antsriondel]

Getting ready for 2023 Ant season, will hopefully get a blacklight. 

[Manitobant]

Hopefully you can supply us with lots of liometopum like last year. My queen died recently.

[antsriondel]

Hopefully you can supply us with lots of liometopum like last year. My queen died recently.

That sucks, hopefully your next queen will be better. I am planning on catching at least fifty-plus Queens this year, which will hopefully be plenty for everyone.

[rptraut]

Are there any restrictions if I would like to get one sent to me in Ontario?

[antsriondel]

Are there any restrictions if I would like to get one sent to me in Ontario?

No, there are no restrictions in Canada on shipping to different provinces. If you would like to buy one here is a link: https://canada-ant-c...ning-tree-ant-1

Also if you would like you could just buy some from me when I catch more.

Edited by antsriondel, March 21 2023 - 6:21 AM.

[antsriondel]

One of my favourite anting spots is on the shore of Kootenay Lake. I find hundreds of Camponotus, and a plethora of Liometopum Queen right on the surface of the water, and then I just scoop them up and put them in a test tube setup.

Edited by antsriondel, March 21 2023 - 6:59 AM.

[rptraut]

Thanks, I'll let you know.  Is there something that you particularly like about Liometopum?  From what I've read they can be aggressive and produce noxious odours when disturbed.

[antsriondel]

Thanks, I'll let you know.  Is there something that you particularly like about Liometopum?  From what I've read they can be aggressive and produce noxious odours when disturbed.

They are one of if not the fastest growing species of ants, they get large majors and can be polygynous.

[ColAnt735]

Thanks to the warmer temperatures we’ve had here the first ants have woken up. I saw a Tetramorium worker walking today.

[antsriondel]

Thanks to the warmer temperatures we’ve had here the first ants have woken up. I saw a Tetramorium worker walking today.

Same here. Saw some Formica and Aphaenogaster workers running around.

[Rrar]

I haven't seen any ants. Hope to see them soon

[antsriondel]

I haven't seen any ants. Hope to see them soon

Yeah it has only started to warm up here in the past week.

[antsriondel]

I was just wondering does anyone have a favourite ant species that is in your area? If so I would very much like to know! My favourite (as many can guess) is Liometopum luctuosum.

[Manitobant]

Polyergus Mexicanus

[Rrar]

Lasius Niger

[rptraut]

Brachymyrmex depilis cause they're just so darn cute!

[antsriondel]

Brachymyrmex depilis cause they're just so darn cute!

Agreed!

[antsriondel]

I entirely missed most of the early Camponotus flights, The Liometopum have had a few small flights but this year has been kind of small compared to last year. Has anyone else experienced a slower year? Hopefully things will start to pick up soon.

[rptraut]

Hello antsriondel;
I am in Perth county, southern Ontario. Everything here has been slow this spring. The weather has been mostly cool, with alternating wet and dry periods. Yesterday we got rain after about a month of dry weather. I thought there might be some flight activity today, but it was 18 degrees C and not much was active. Even my kept colonies have been slow as I don’t heat the workshop where I keep them at this time of year so their activity rises and falls with the outside temperature. When the weather warms up I expect the ant activity will warm up as well.
RPT