27 replies to this topic

[Vendayn]

"Planning" as in, may not happen. Cause knowing my dad, he tends to change things. But, we are going up sometime this year for sure.

 

No idea if I'll find any queen ants (probably not, since its still kinda early in the year), but we're checking the area out. We're thinking of moving up to Big Bear, and rent a house up there.

 

I'm sure the ants up there are way better than what I find in Irvine. Which where I can walk (not the whole of Irvine) is mostly Argentine ants, sometimes Solenopsis invicta and the rare areas of Pogonomyrmex californicus.

 

If we do end up moving to Big Bear, at least I won't ever be surrounded by Argentine ants. Except the times we travel down below to do shopping or whatever.

 

No idea what ants are up there, but I don't imagine too different than any other Southern California mountain.

Edited by Vendayn, May 2 2016 - 11:53 PM.

[dspdrew]

Lots of Camponotus, Formica, Lasius, Liometopum and Pogonomyrmex montanus.

[Vendayn]

Lots of Camponotus, Formica, Lasius, Liometopum and Pogonomyrmex montanus.

Finding any of those would be really awesome. If I do go up Saturday, I'd probably more likely find Camponotus. They fly pretty early. I even saw a Camponotus queen in the apartment complex, but she was already dead for some reason.

 

I didn't know I'd find Pogonomyrmex up there though. But, I do now remember seeing Pogonomyrmex way up on Palomar Mountain one year, so I guess it makes sense. Usually in California, I think of more desert-like areas for Pogonomyrmex, since that is where they tend to commonly be. So, finding Pogonomyrmex up in the mountains seems a bit strange to me, lol.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, any open sunny area, you might find P. montanus. When I was looking for their founding chambers last year, I was actually stopping along the road at any area like that, and sure enough, there they were. Those mountains, the San Gabriel Mountains, and San Jacinto Mountains are actually the only place that species is found. I don't remember finding any myself in the San Jacinto Mountains yet.

[Vendayn]

That would be awesome to find them then! I don't imagine I'll find a queen at this time of year (unless they have their mating flights different than the desert variety), but it would be cool to see them. They look really cool.

 

Also, is it possible to find Pheidole up there at all? I know Big Bear City (which is probably where we'll be living, IF we decide to actually move there) is...I think at 6 thousand feet? Or close to 7 thousand? I'd have to check again. Is that too high up for Pheidole?

[dspdrew]

I dug up some P. montanus queens July 25th last year. I have no idea how high up Pheidole can be found. I have never found any around there before. You can find Aphaenogaster occidentalis up there though.

[antmaniac]

Do they have bears up there?

[Subverted]

Yep, bears are a possibility for the entire LA metro region adjacent to the foothills/mountains and that ranges east into the San Bernardino Mountains

[antmaniac]

Yep, bears are a possibility for the entire LA metro region adjacent to the foothills/mountains and that ranges east into the San Bernardino Mountains

Ouch, better be careful when you head down looking for queens. Look like a dangerous task for colony digging.

[dspdrew]

Mountain lions are more dangerous. They will stalk you. There's plenty of those up there.

[Vendayn]

I'd be more worried about random drug farms, with booby traps, than I would animals. I lived in Riverside, which is right on the other side of the mountains bordering Orange County and, well, Riverside. I heard a story from my teacher, who said his friend took a wrong turn on a hike and he was found murdered because he came up on a drug growing operation.

 

Plus, gotta watch out for wild animals anywhere. Like here, I probably wouldn't want to run into a pack of coyotes. There are a LOT of coyotes around where I live, and in a large pack, could be dangerous. Or run into a mountain lion, which Dspdrew mentioned.

 

And actually worse than wild animals (besides dangerous people), is coming up on a ground nesting wasp nest, which kill LOTS of people every year. Or run into a killer bee hive.

 

But you could say that about most anywhere when anting.

[Vendayn]

As long as I don't see Argentine ants. Not sure if 6000 feet is too high for them, but I'm really looking forward to living in an Argentine ant free zone. So wherever we end up moving, hopefully no Argentine ants.

[Vendayn]

Are Dampwood termites pretty common in Big Bear? I imagine I'll find a lot of Subterranean termites, but I've always wanted to try and keep a Dampwood termite colony. I imagine I just have to look in an area with damp wood, since the name implies they live in wet/damp wood.

[dspdrew]

I see them flying at sundown almost every time I'm up there.

[Vendayn]

Would you consider Dampwood termites to be pretty easy to keep? From my research, they seemed simple enough. Would just need to make sure they never dry out, but that is true for many Subterranean termites as well.

 

(edit:

Ah nevermind. Saw your journal. Someone said its probably easier starting from part of a colony, than starting from scratch. That is about the same as my experience with Subterranean termites.

Edited by Vendayn, May 4 2016 - 8:15 PM.

[Vendayn]

Probably not gonna go. Its snowing up there, and we can't currently drive in the snow with what is supposed to be a sports car. More reason for dad to buy a used 4runner eventually (getting it used is way cheaper). Especially if we go actually move up there.

 

May end up going sometime next week, we'll see. Its not too much of a hurry, but we want a chance to check things out and actually get to places.

[Foogoo]

I'm thinking about heading up there later this week, do you think Camponotus flew up there based on all the other flights that have been happening lately? It seems it hasn't been as warm in the evening up there as down here in the flatlands.

[dspdrew]

I think most might have flown back during the heatwave they had up there before.

[Foogoo]

Ah I must have missed it. I briefly check last week and it appeared pretty cool up there still. I should probably restrain myself from collecting more queens for now anyway...

[dspdrew]

Ah I must have missed it. I briefly check last week and it appeared pretty cool up there still. I should probably restrain myself from collecting more queens for now anyway...

 

This (http://www.formicult...ssions/?p=34410) was the big day.