15 replies to this topic

[JesseTheAntKid]

So, in my area, there's a bunch of Camponotus planatus. I would like to know when their nuptial flights are. Also, where in Texas can I find some Atta texana or mexicana? Atta is my dream species because of the queens and soldiers, so it would be a big help to know where I can find some. Thanks!

[AsdinAnts]

mostly all carpenter ants start their nuptial flights around spring, and for the atta, i’m not sure. I also would like to keep Atta, and where my parents are from (I visit yearly) there are atta there. (el salvador)

[JesseTheAntKid]

mostly all carpenter ants start their nuptial flights around spring, and for the atta, i’m not sure. I also would like to keep Atta, and where my parents are from (I visit yearly) there are atta there. (el salvador)

Dang, the salvadorian Atta are savage (I believe Atta cephalotes. I do not want to experience their bites.) I hope you find some queens! Perhaps you could keep them at their home and check on them every year? And thanks for the info about the carpenter ants. There's a huge colony of Camponotus planatus where I live (as well as Tetra bicar, which is how i have my t. bicar journal) and i am hoping to catch some queens when they do nuptials. 

[AsdinAnts]

omg i wrote so much just for it not to post

[AsdinAnts]

In el salvador and guatemala there is something called “Zampopos de Mayo” which translates to leaf cutter ants. This is a time in May where there is a HUGE, AND I MEAN HUGE nuptial flight for atta cephalotes. I’m probably going to collect some when I go since it’s okay to keep exotic species but do NOT release them into your neighborhood in order too not have detrimental effects on your neighborhood (and maybe country) Also guatemala captures the queens, cooks them, and eats them. (it sounds so gross to me) I only saw the zampopo de mayo once before and I was around 9, when we went they started flying while me and my mom were in a truck. We were driving then we just heard “CRUNCH” CRUNCH” CRUNCH” turns out it was all the atta queens that were flying. The streets were full AND I MEAN FULL OF SO MANY ATTA QUEENS. It was ridiculous, but an amazing sight lol, ill add some pictures from google to show you, I can’t find one of the street pics, but i found some of people holding them in their hands and then cooked leaf cutter ants.

[AsdinAnts]

you could just scoop a handful of queens on the ground like right outside of your door. it was crazy!

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[ANTdrew]

I’ve eaten these before when I lived in Guatemala as a kid.

[AsdinAnts]

How’d they taste?

[JesseTheAntKid]

Oh yeah, I've heard in the Phillipines they do that with weaver ants. They just gather them up and eat them. Sad (both are my favorite species 😭) but definitely a unique aspect of their culture. If only we could do this with Solenopsis invicta queens. Spicy.

[AsdinAnts]

you did not just say that 😭

[JesseTheAntKid]

Bro I just realized I sounded like chatgpt

[AsdinAnts]

💀

[JesseTheAntKid]

[AsdinAnts]

what

[Zeiss]

It's great to get people who are active and use the forum, but please keep the posting that adds nothing to a minimum. It's getting close to breaking rule 4: No posting any spam messages, including posting of messages that add little to no value to the topic of conversation.

 

As for eating ants, I've had weaver ant queens and I don't think they were prepared well, they were very dry and didn't have any flavor to them except being kind of burnt.

[AsdinAnts]

okay, sorry zeiss!