43 replies to this topic

[antsinmypants]

I ask b/c I saw a YouTube vid last week, and it eventually brought out a queen. Seems better than tearing up Mother Earth and working up a sweat while attracting undue attention from the public. Also the materials used are biodegradable and, I hope, not toxic but only obnoxious to the ants. I suppose it would be akin to ice fishing, sitting back and waiting for your surprise catch to come up to the surface.

[Ants4fun]

I ask b/c I saw a YouTube vid last week, and it eventually brought out a queen. Seems better than tearing up Mother Earth and working up a sweat while attracting undue attention from the public. Also the materials used are biodegradable and, I hope, not toxic but only obnoxious to the ants. I suppose it would be akin to ice fishing, sitting back and waiting for your surprise catch to come up to the surface.

That would only work with certain ants. Many ants in North America don't relocate the colony when it rains, or there is flooding. Perhaps the air pockets within the nest keep it drier. It will only work with ants such as Solenopsis Invicta, which are native to the Amazon region, where flooding brings the water lever tens of feet high for a large period of time. It might work for founding queens/colonies, but more than likely they'll stay put.

[CoolColJ]

maybe blowing air into the nests could work - ants hate airflow in the nest

Edited by CoolColJ, April 29 2018 - 5:29 AM.

[Ants_Texas]

Has flushing out an established nest of ants with a combination of lemon, distilled vinegar and water poured into the entrance been effective in obtaining queens, eggs and larvae?

Sadly, no. I tried this multiple times when I was new to the hobby, and it never worked. Don't waste your time.

[dermy]

Has flushing out an established nest of ants with a combination of lemon, distilled vinegar and water poured into the entrance been effective in obtaining queens, eggs and larvae?

For us in the North I find putting a nice flat rock overtop a Colony of ants and waiting for mid-day to flip said rock over can yield a queen or two from some species, such as Myrmica.

[note: this only works in Early Spring]

[lucifer007]

Will try to download a black light on my phone next time i go looking for some queen ants thank you!

[DaveJay]

Has flushing out an established nest of ants with a combination of lemon, distilled vinegar and water poured into the entrance been effective in obtaining queens, eggs and larvae?

I saw a video a while back, it might be the same one but I thought only lemon juice and water was used. It's worth pointing out that it was done to a nest in concrete and he chipped away to make sure that the liquid went into the nest properly. Sure enough though, the ants packed up and left. First workers found a new spot, then came workers carrying brood followed eventually by the Queen and her euntriage.
It did seem like a very passive way to collect a colony (or part thereof ).

Edit, I should also make it clear that it was just one average cup (200ml) of liquid, not enough to flood them out you'd think otherwise you could just use a hose.
Last year I had ants in a tomato pot and no way could I get them to move just using water, believe me I tried.

Edited by DaveJay, July 19 2018 - 2:31 AM.

[CoolColJ]

blasting air into the nest can get ants to move, well it sure triggers them

[Guy_Fieri]

Great info, I’ll make sure to keep this in mind when looking for queens.

Edited by Guy_Fieri, December 21 2018 - 7:25 AM.

[Thebrute99]

Has flushing out an established nest of ants with a combination of lemon, distilled vinegar and water poured into the entrance been effective in obtaining queens, eggs and larvae?

I have seen a lot about this I have never got it to work

Edited by Thebrute99, February 13 2019 - 5:13 PM.

[Broncos]

In drew's photo of his black light setup, what is the white thing he put on top of the light.

[Nematocyst]

What a great resource!!! Tha k you so much for the helpful information. My daughter is a new ant enthusiast and we tried a few time this season to look for queens at Mt. Baldy, CA with no luck. I'm so glad I found your article as I think she is getting a little discouraged (she's 9 years old). I think the black light at night method is fantastic and would like to give it a try. What is an acceptable level of humidity and a good time to try in the foothills of Mt. Baldy with a black light?
We tha k you in advance for your help.

[Nematocyst]

In drew's photo of his black light setup, what is the white thing he put on top of the light.

Looks like some sort of white sheet. Like a bedsheets.

[Bigjohn]

Does anybody know where I could buy Pheidole californica ants?

[B_rad0806]

Does anybody know where I could buy Pheidole californica ants?

Ask in the general market place not here

[westhollywoodant]

I am a country boy raised, that's fairly easy finding. BUT, moved to Los Angeles, CA about 7 years ago and was wondering if anyone has any experience finding queens in LA??

[FloridaAnts]

If I am not mistaken, plenty of people have found queens in LA. Good luck!

[westhollywoodant]

Appreciate it Florida but that’s not the most useful information 😂😂

[FloridaAnts]

Appreciate it Florida but that’s not the most useful information

I have never been to LA, but try around established colonies and local parks.(Do those exist there?) Sometimes, you can go look near stores as there is typically queens near gas stations who don’t throughly spray insecticide

[westhollywoodant]

Thanks. I’ll wait and see if anyone who actually lives here has any experience and notes of finding queens in LA 🍻😎