53 replies to this topic

[Gregory2455]

Well, I made it. Left at 4:00am, and arrived by noon. I have been here for 7 hours, and I have found around 4 different species, 2 Formica, 1 Camponotus, and one species of an unknown genus of ants on the property I am staying on. I know this thread is not that big of a deal for any of you living in Canada, or in that area, but for me, and anyone else reading this further south, I rarely see these ants there. I have found particularly a huge colony of

Camponotus laevigatus, and a Formica rubicunda. I will have pictures later, but am still in the process of unpacking my stuff.

Edited by Gregory2455, July 16 2014 - 6:29 PM.

[Anhzor]

Hi gregory I am also in idaho on a visit, youll find lots of formica queen as I do.

[Crystals]

How long do you plan to be there?  Some big flights should be coming up.

[Gregory2455]

Yep, there are a LOT of Formica alates in both of the mature colonies I have found. Hope I get to see them fly before I go home... Even if they flew couldn't keep them . I looked at the Camponotus laevigatus colony and there are some huge pupae, next to the small ones... alate cocoons? I will have a picture. I am staying for exactly one week then going back to California.

[Gregory2455]

The computer I am using while I am here doesn't let me quote, or copy/paste.

[Gregory2455]

A Formica sp. flew today!

[dspdrew]

Any idea what species?

[Gregory2455]

No clue... I brought a queen back to where I am staying, she shed her wings just before I grabbed her.

[Gregory2455]

Honestly, she looks questionable. I wouldn't say formica, but the workers escorting them when they were flying, were definitely formica.

[Gregory2455]

Does anyone else get nervous as heck about your ants when they go on a long trip?

[Crystals]

Before I leave, I get nervous with my colonies of rarer species or ones that are a bit delicate.

 

So I prep well before I leave, because once you are gone, there isn't much you can do.  I fill 1-2 large waterers of hummingbird nectar and ensure I give a good feeding the day before I leave.

I have that weird ability to leave work at work, home at home, and forget almost stress/worry on holidays.

 

They are ants though, they are pretty hardy.  I had a 3 year old hide a test tube on me, and it was about 5 weeks before I found the Formica queen and her 5 workers.  It wasn't until I mentioned it to my brother that I found out that he had even babysat a kid, and that he had sneaked into my room for 5 min before they realized he wasn't watching tv.  Ants were a bit cold considering my room is 18C, but they were just fine.

 

Ever try to completely exterminate an ant colony?  It isn't easy short of chemical warfare.   Honest they will be fine. 

[Mercutia]

Lol not really. Ants can go quite a while without food. Sometimes, especially with new queens, I just put them away and don't worry about them for a few weeks to a month (depending on the species).

[Anhzor]

i put all my Formica into hibernation before i leave, just stick them in the refrigerator and they'll be alright.  I had them in there for as long as 4 weeks. My Pogonomyrmex on the other hand... i just give them a stockpile of seeds and they turn out alright for the most part.

[dspdrew]

It wasn't until I mentioned it to my brother that I found out that he had even babysat a kid, and that he had sneaked into my room for 5 min before they realized he wasn't watching tv.

Sounds like it's time for a lock on the door.

 

My pogos on the other hand... i just give them a stockpile of seeds and they turn out alright for the most part.

Haha yeah, for the most part.

[Gregory2455]

Caught a Tetramorium Sp.E queen today... I am here for only 3 more days. The temptations of taking them back to California, or to release them are huge... I'm pretty sure all these species live in California too. 

In other news, found one of those big Formica mounds in the forest, pretty interesting.

[dspdrew]

You could always just happen to find some here right after you get back.

[Mercutia]

LOLOL. I've felt those temptations before. I found an Odontomachus queen when I was in Dominican Republic. Ohhhh the temptation was strong. But I gave a big heave ho double sigh and put her near the bush where I found her.

[Gregory2455]

OR, i can leave em in a test tube here, and they would come down by car late October. As if that would work.

[Gregory2455]

I don't have the resources to find these species in California. Also caught a medium sized black queen today, which I haven't gotten the time to identify.

[dspdrew]

The law says they can't be transported across state lines, so it doesn't matter if its by plane, by car, by train, or in your pocket on foot, it's all the same.