6 replies to this topic

[Foogoo]

Thought I'd get prepared for this coming anting season by doing some research on observed mating habits of the species I'm hoping to collect (except for Solenopsis) or that I happened to come across. Here's what I found published, very useful information in conjunction with the Mating Chart.

 

Pogonomyrmex

As other observers have noted before (see Nagel and Rettenmeyer, 1973) the nuptial flight period of Pogonomyrmex starts a few days after the rainy season has begun. In our study area in Arizona it usually begins in the middle of July and lasts until late August or early September. Although the four Pogonomyrmex species studied frequently conduct their nuptial flights on the same days, the daily timing of their mating swarms differed strongly. P. maricopa swarmed in the morning between the hours 10:00-11:30 (Arizona Time) followed by P. desertorum (11:00-13 : 00) while the remaining two species conducted their nuptial flights in the afternoon (P. barbatus 15:30-17:00, P. rugosus 16:30-18:00). This timing pattern remained very consistent during the three summers of our observations.

 

Cyphomyrmex and Trachymyrmex

Both species produce sexuals during the spring (March to May) and release their sexuals for mating flights by the end of May or early June. Mating flights appear to be highly synchronized events that largely take place over the course of a few days; dealate females become difficult to find by July. The weeks immediately preceding mating flights are characterized by an almost rainless period that marks the transition from rainfall derived from frontal boundaries to convective monsoon-like afternoon rains ( Chen & Gerber, 1990 ). Thus, by the first heavy rain, the sexuals have matured and are ready to fly.

 

Atta

The flights occur in the early morning on days after rainfall in mid to late June. Eight females were collected on 19 June 1988 and 16 more were collected on 26 June 1988.

 

 

 

[Foogoo]

Desert ants (Acromyrmex, Pogonomyrmex, Myrmecocystus, Veromessor, Pheidole)

...mating flights, which ar triggered by summer/fall rains for species discussed here except for Messor pergandei and Pogonomyrmex califonicus which have asynchronous flights apparently triggered by photoperiod.

 

Solenopsis invicta

Mating flights of Solenopsis invicta take place on warm days after heavy rains during the months of may, June, and July. Between about 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm on such days...

 

 

Veromessor pergandei

...mating flights occur in late Winter/early spring at midmorning, under clear skies as air temperatures reach approximately 22 C... Mating season of V. pergandei was almost 2 months long [Jan-March].

 

Myrmecocystus mimicus

Nuptial flights of Myrmecocystus mimicus were observed after heavy rains in July. According to Snelling (1976) flights occur most frequently in the late afternoon. In our study area we observed flights both in the evening, between 17:30 and 19:00, and in the morning between 6:00 and 7:00. Usually the males flew first, followed by the heavier females which often climbed tufts of grass or similar objects before flying. Because we never observed mating on the ground, we presume that mating takes place in the air.

 

We recorded the movements of Myrmecocystus mimicus queens between 1130 and 1330 h on 27 June 1996 in creosote-tarbush (Larrea tridentata-Flourensia cernua) shrub habitat in Chihuahuan desert at the Jornada Experimental Range, which is located 37 km north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Nuptial flights were ongoing earlier that morning (0830 h) following heavy rains of 26 and 27 June.

 

[dspdrew]

I've been working on the mating chart again lately. Before the start of next season, I'm hoping to use all the new data to at least create a chart like the one we already have, to use in the mean time.

[yen_saw]

 

 

Atta

The flights occur in the early morning on days after rainfall in mid to late June. Eight females were collected on 19 June 1988 and 16 more were collected on 26 June 1988.

 

 

 

For the past two years in Houston Texas, Atta texana first flew in late April. The years before that mating flight occurred around May.

[Foogoo]

For the past two years in Houston Texas, Atta texana first flew in late April. The years before that mating flight occurred around May.

Were they triggered by rain?

[yen_saw]

 

For the past two years in Houston Texas, Atta texana first flew in late April. The years before that mating flight occurred around May.

Were they triggered by rain?

 

Yes. Nuptial flight usually starts in wee hour, and congregate around areas with bright light source.

[Foogoo]

Yes. Nuptial flight usually starts in wee hour, and congregate around areas with bright light source.

Reading a paper now that confirms your observations, that they fly 3-4am. Now if only Atta texana flew in California...