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Myrmecocystus wheelri

honey pot ants pots flights nuptial flights

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Tanks - Posted September 2 2023 - 1:03 PM

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Found some colonies of these a while back near me and I want to catch some queens. What month do they fly? What time do flights occur at? And what are the conditions needed for a  Myrmecocystus wheeleri nuptial flight to happen?



#2 Offline AntsCali098 - Posted September 2 2023 - 6:27 PM

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Myrmecocystus fly June - August as a genus, not sure about that species. It needs to rain the day before.

Interested buying in ants? Feel free to check out my shop

Feel free to read my journals, like this one.

 

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Atta sp (wish they were in CA), Crematogaster cerasi, Most Pheidole species

 

 


#3 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 2 2023 - 11:18 PM

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I've seen Myrmecocystus fly from January until October if the weather conditions are right. Here in Southern California, they typically fly March through September from my experience.
 
Here is how I would put it for Socal:
 

January (rare):  Foothills, Deserts
February (rare): Foothills, Deserts
March:           Foothills, Deserts
April:           Foothills, Deserts
May:             Mountains
June:            Deserts
July:            Deserts
August:          Deserts
September:       Deserts
October (rare):  Deserts

It really sounds like you need the mating chart.
 
https://www.formicul...ngmating-chart/


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#4 Offline Tanks - Posted September 3 2023 - 11:07 AM

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I've seen Myrmecocystus fly from January until October if the weather conditions are right. Here in Southern California, they typically fly March through September from my experience.
 
Here is how I would put it for Socal:
 

January (rare):  Foothills, Deserts
February (rare): Foothills, Deserts
March:           Foothills, Deserts
April:           Foothills, Deserts
May:             Mountains
June:            Deserts
July:            Deserts
August:          Deserts
September:       Deserts
October (rare):  Deserts
It really sounds like you need the mating chart.
 
https://www.formicul...ngmating-chart/

 

Thank you. I will make sure to check out the mating chart so I don't have to keep bugging you guys.



#5 Offline Tanks - Posted September 24 2023 - 4:53 PM

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I forgot to ask something. What time do they fly? Do they fly in the morning, afternoon, or night? And when would it be the best time to go look for freshly mated alates?



#6 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 24 2023 - 7:47 PM

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I've always suspected they fly some time in the morning, but I've never seen them fly, so I don't know for sure.



#7 Offline mazmurlo - Posted September 24 2023 - 8:14 PM

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if it truly is myrmecocystus wheeleri they'll fly spring


Edited by mazmurlo, September 24 2023 - 8:15 PM.


#8 Offline Tanks - Posted September 25 2023 - 2:05 PM

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I've always suspected they fly some time in the morning, but I've never seen them fly, so I don't know for sure.

Ok, thank you.







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