10 replies to this topic

[SamKeepsAnts]

I have a solenopsis molesta nest in my yard and am looking for the nest I can't find any trails and have two banana trees that I see them near so they might be nesting in there anyone have any experience with finding their nests?

[Californian Anter]

I'm pretty sure they're subterranean and get their food by raiding nearby colonies for brood.

[gcsnelling]

They are not strictly nest raiders, it is not uncommon for them to be indoor pests. I often find the colonies under rocks.

[MrILoveTheAnts]

When nesting in clay I often find whole colonies taking refuge tunnels made by earth worms to escape the water. They hunt soft bodied arthropods such as the white root aphids seen in parasitic Lasius colonies too. I'm sure they take on a number of soil decomposes as well.

Edited by MrILoveTheAnts, December 31 2016 - 4:11 PM.

[Alabama Anter]

I'm pretty sure they're subterranean and get their food by raiding nearby colonies for brood.

Wtf?! They don't raid for brood! They steal other colonies food. Hence their name Theif Ants

[Mdrogun]

I find Solenopsis molesta to be almost entirely subterranean. I had no idea I had a colony in my yard until I caught about 70 Solenopsis molesta queens with my blacklights. I doubt you'll be able to find where they're nesting.

[Mdrogun]

 

I'm pretty sure they're subterranean and get their food by raiding nearby colonies for brood.

Wtf?! They don't raid for brood! They steal other colonies food. Hence their name Theif Ants

 

This is incorrect. how are you going to steal another ant colony's food? Most ants only bring protein in the nest which will get quickly eaten. They eat brood of other ants.

[MrILoveTheAnts]

 

I'm pretty sure they're subterranean and get their food by raiding nearby colonies for brood.

Wtf?! They don't raid for brood! They steal other colonies food. Hence their name Theif Ants

 

No actually they will eat the brood of other ants. Actually almost all ants will eat the brood of other ants, but in the case of thief ants they only do it if the brood is poorly tended/guarded.

[Crystals]

I remember one older member commenting that he found hundreds of newly flown Solenopsis molesta queens when moving old oil drums in his yard.

He found several other species too.

[Alabama Anter]

I'm pretty sure they're subterranean and get their food by raiding nearby colonies for brood.

Wtf?! They don't raid for brood! They steal other colonies food. Hence their name Theif Ants

No actually they will eat the brood of other ants. Actually almost all ants will eat the brood of other ants, but in the case of thief ants they only do it if the brood is poorly tended/guarded.

Oh I knew that, but I meant raids just to steal/eat brood. Solenopsis molest usually "raid" for foodstuff like insects.

[Serafine]

I'm pretty sure they're subterranean and get their food by raiding nearby colonies for brood.

Wtf?! They don't raid for brood! They steal other colonies food. Hence their name Theif Ants

Nah, they do in fact steal other ant brood, although Solenopsis fugax is even more specialized on that.
They dig small tunnels into other ant colonies (the other ants can't pass them because Solenopsis molesta/fugax are so tiny) and have a special deterrent chemical they spray over the brood and food of the other colony, so the other ants avoid them. When most of the other ants are gone the thief ants can safely break up and transport the brood to their own nest.