46 replies to this topic

[Yourbasicantkeeper]

Thank you for all this helpful information!

It must have been lots of hard work putting this article together.

I havent caught any queen ants yet but i will try with the UV method.

Thank you again!  

[CAantz]

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

In my experience I have found that it is hard to find queens in LA other than smaller house and pavement dwelling ants. If you want to find some other ants like Camponotus and Pogonomyrmex, you will probably have a better chance of going to a place that has less people and more nature. Places like Temescal Canyon, Topanga, Griffith park and Joshua Tree are all good anting spots. If you live near the ocean the it is going to be even harder to find queens.

[dspdrew]

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. Im 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.

 

Blacklighting in the foothills is best during a major heatwave. Unless it's late summer, I find black lighting in places like Mount Baldy doesn't do much. To find queens there, it's best to also go during a major heatwave, particularly the first heatwave of the Spring, and to just look for them on the ground.

 

 

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

In my experience I have found that it is hard to find queens in LA other than smaller house and pavement dwelling ants. If you want to find some other ants like Camponotus and pogos, you will probably have a better chance of going to a place that has less people and more nature. Places like Temescal Canyon, Topanga, Griffith park and Joshua Tree are all good anting spots. If you live near the ocean the it is going to be even harder to find queens.

 

 

When I first started I thought the same about Southern CA. I couldn't find anything until I realized you had to go out in the wilderness, and at the right times.

 

 

This thread (https://www.formicul...ifornia-anting/) actually has a lot of specific and current information about anting in Southern CA.

[AntObserver]

Agreed. I like checking nature centers as they tend to be good. I went to Placerita Canyon Nature Center and it was crawling with ants, mostly Pogonomyrmex and Liometopum. But some Pheidole and Formica as well.
I’m Still exploring the surroundings 😎😎🐜🐜👏🏼

Edited by AntObserver, July 24 2023 - 2:17 PM.

[Artimusclydeperez]

I have a question for any one who has had luck catching pseudomyrmex gracilis what technique do you find effective or is this one of those ants that u just need to happen apon
I have a question for any one who has had luck catching pseudomyrmex gracilis what technique do you find effective or is this one of those ants that u just need to happen apon

[AntBoi3030]

Researching nesting locations and nuptial flight times and patterns is a good method. For example, pseudomyrmex gracilis tend to nest in bushes and trees and are listed to fly from March-October. All of this info can be found on Ant Wiki and online. Research is key. Also, I've accidentally happened upon pseudomyrmex queens in pools, so check there.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

I have a question for any one who has had luck catching pseudomyrmex gracilis what technique do you find effective or is this one of those ants that u just need to happen apon
I have a question for any one who has had luck catching pseudomyrmex gracilis what technique do you find effective or is this one of those ants that u just need to happen apon

You can never really “happened apon” any queen ant during any time of the year, you just need to wait for their time period to have nuptial flights, and only during those time frames you can really find them when you least expect it. But I guess this species is an exception because they fly all year

 

EDIT: Some species are more rare and sometimes you need to travel around to find them

Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, February 19 2025 - 8:02 AM.