Took a trip to Tx. recently and spotted this colony of pogonomyrmex barbatus in the local park where we walked reguarlly.
just thought i'd share a couple pics and my being an ant nerd now getting excited by seeing ants in the wild in a way i didn't before.
They were so huge compared to my colony of pogonomyrmex occidentalis. And most crazy of all was i saw a queen briefly emerge from the nest and immedtly turn around and go back in. Too fast to get a pic of but she was obvious with wings and wide back. I wondered if it was a colony full of alets about to fly or if she was one that never left and would be remaining in the nest as a worker now.
Wide clearning around their space.
and a close up of their front door activty.
The queen i saw only just emerged enough to be seen at the entrance hole and was gone again just as fast. Was really neat to see her though.
Made me want to keep a colony of them but they ain't a cali ant.
Edited by Full_Frontal_Yeti, December 19 2023 - 11:58 AM.