20 replies to this topic

[DEEDEEDEE]

I see on Formiculture people with ten of Each species, while me here is stuggling to find a nuptial flight or queen ant

Are there any tips that can help me.

Also My main goal is to find a Camponutus Pennyslavnicus queen but any other camp will do.

[ANTdrew]

Well, ants literally dominate all terrestrial habitats, so it is quite easy to find queens if you know when and where to look. I can’t see your location, so I can’t give specific advice. To find lots of species, spend lots of time searching in edge habitats where forest meets a clearing. Also learn how to make a blacklight trap.

[DEEDEEDEE]

I just changed it on member maps. it is near those others in Greater Chicago area

[Flu1d]

Are you able to create a blacklight setup anywhere? What times are you searching? I split my ant hunts during certain hours of the day/night/morning based on specific ants in my area because I know when they fly.

I created my own list of local ants and the times they're found. Most Camponotus in my area are night flyers. In fact, I believe most ants in my area are night flyers. I setup my blacklights right before sunset, before it gets dark.. One in my back yard and one in my front yard. Right before it gets full dark, I usually already have Brachymyrmex patagonicus, Dorymyrmex bureni and Pheidole bicarinata. Once it gets pitch black, I start to see Camponotus floridanus and Odontomachus haematodus. There's more, but I unfortunately don't get them all at my light. For morning, I set up 1 hour and 30 minutes before sunrise. I will see things like Pheidole navigans and Cyphomyrmex rimosus.. again there's more but that's typically what I find at my home.

Right after the sun is rising (right as the blacklight becomes useless) is when the Pheidole obscurithorax fly. Little after that, Pseudomyrmex gracilis.. and soon after that, Trachymyrmex septentrionalis. Noon is when you start getting the Solenopsis invicta. For the ants that fly in the later morning (when it's light) and during the day, I usually find them running around on concrete like roads, sidewalks, paved tracks at the park, the gutter by the road etc.

I guess I say all that to say this, don't give u0 and the more you look the more you find the more you learn when, where and what to look for.

Happy anting, my friend!

[DEEDEEDEE]

I am a new ant fan so I don't know when to search but I will definitely search up backlighting Strats

[Skwiggledork]

I'm far from an expert, but I've caught a handful of queens. Here's a few tips to help out. 
1)Always be looking and carry a vial/test tube.
2)While walking around make a mental note of ant hills or workers you see. 
3)Learn what a queens/drones look like in general. Queens typically are bigger, especially the thorax or middle where wings would attach to. Drones usually look like wasps, but are often mistaken for queens because winged ant = reproductive.
4)A lot of ants prefer to fly after it rains, so prime hunting time is within a day or so of it stopping.
5)If you are hunting for a specific species read up on when they fly, so you can plan your search. For example you mentioned C.pennsylvanicus above. I've only seen them between 9p-12a in May, but I also haven't looked for them often. You can read other people's journals on here and see what they said and check out antflights.com to get more info. 

[Barristan]

Some people also use black light for catching queens, seems to work quite well for some species.

[DEEDEEDEE]

I got a 50 watt blacklight today.

Does anyone know what I should do next?

[Flu1d]

Follow my previous post.. hook it up before the sun sets (before it gets dark) and await the many queens that will flock to it! Ensure you have test tubes to put them into because it could be no queens or it could be hundreds.. depending on where you live and the conditions (whether it rained recently, the heat, etc)

Edited by Flu1d, June 6 2023 - 4:10 PM.

[liamsantics]

i found this cool 3d print file. if you have a 3d printer this queen ant trap, combined with a small blacklight works WONDERs in ant catching

 

https://cults3d.com/...t-founding-trap

[liamsantics]

if you don't have a 3d printer i can ship one i made with mine to you if you want

[DEEDEEDEE]

If I don't get queens with the normal method I can try getting that trap

[AdamAnt1]

i found this cool 3d print file. if you have a 3d printer this queen ant trap, combined with a small blacklight works WONDERs in ant catching

 

https://cults3d.com/...t-founding-trap

 

 

if you don't have a 3d printer i can ship one i made with mine to you if you want

I'm just embarking on the adventure of ant keeping. I'm trying to get queens currently and noticed your little 3d printed trap. I don't have access to a 3D printer and wanted to express interest in this offer if it still stands

[ANTdrew]

There is no need for any 3D printed trap. All you need is a blacklight bulb, a white sheet, and some vigilance.

[bmb1bee]

Yup, there are lots of cheap black lights you can get on Amazon. The ones I use are USB-connected though.

[DEEDEEDEE]

Today my brother found this small queen does anyone who know what species it might be or genus.

Yes I am happy

 

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[Virginian_ants]

Could you get a closer picture? From here it looks like tetramorium.

[DEEDEEDEE]

 wasn't Able to catch any this year But I have marked A camponotus nest.

During flight season would that be a good place to be around.

[100lols]

wasn't Able to catch any this year But I have marked A camponotus nest.
During flight season would that be a good place to be around.

You could try to figure out the ID of the Camponotus sp. nest you found. Then check when they mate and look for optimal conditions!

Keep looking everyday. I just found a Solenopsis amblychila queen last night walking on a trail here in San Diego. Queens are still flying/around Good luck!

Edited by 100lols, September 10 2023 - 1:55 PM.

[DEEDEEDEE]

Its pennsylvanicus