240 replies to this topic

[Zen]

For northern California, the weather has been in a bit crazy it gets warm then cold than sort of warm then rains then cold, that kind of idea, is there any chance of nuptial flights of P. Imparis. To me, this is crazier than normal, but that might just be me.

[YsTheAnt]

They already flew in Feb in the Bay Area

[Zen]

My question was a bit strange as I caught one back in early March, and it has been about a month since I've seen one I really am just wondering if anybody has seen them recently, with the strange weather.

[YsTheAnt]

They are pretty much done flying, the last day they flew was some time in March I think.

[Wilbo62]

Hey chicago people, prenolepis is flying now! Just caught my first queen of the year and i can see plenty more beginning to swarm.

Edited by Wilbo62, April 12 2018 - 2:08 PM.

[Mettcollsuss]

There was a flight here in Chicago today and I caught nine queens!

[Wilbo62]

There was a flight here in Chicago today and I caught nine queens!

Nice! I ended up with eight, Ill be going out tomorrow as well.

[Mettcollsuss]

Ill be going out tomorrow as well.

same here

[Bracchymyrmex]

Caught two yesterday, but it's going to be 10° F warmer today at around 80° F. Expecting a much bigger flight.

[ColKurtz]

Bergen county, New Jersey (northeast NJ). Just came back. Was out between 3:20 and 5 pm. They were flying, lots of males out, found 8 females. What a beautiful color ant.

[antnest8]

rain and snow here. AND GUESS WHAT WHEN LOOKING AT MY BACKYARD PRENOLEPIS IMPARIS COLONY I SAW A QUEEN THEIR AND WITH THE 4 SECOND LOOK I GOT I SAW NO WING (THIS I A WELL ESTABLISHED COLONY) ((sorry for caps lock too lazy to fix))

[Wilbo62]

I looked a little more today but it was raining so I didn't stay out very long. And unfortunately all I found was one dead queen  . On the bright side, I still have the ones from yesterday!

 

 

[Bracchymyrmex]

Caught 6 yesterday

[CNewton]

Finally it's hitting mid-60s here. Maybe I can see some flights in the next couple days.

[Skwiggledork]

Found a colony swarming today upstate NY. Made a noob mistake and grabbed queens right off the nest. Went home and posted on a fb group about my catches, realized/had my mistake pointed out that my queens were probably all infertile, so I went back released them on their nest, but all the other ones that I had left were gone. Looked around for 2 hours and caught 1 queen about 100 meters off without her wings. So I got one good possibility rather than the 6 duds I probably had. Can't complain.

[SummerChild]

Hi, somewhat new to the forums but seeing that my firat queen is expecting and happens to be of this threads species, I figured it would be a good place to share

I caught my queen back in late April here in Minnesota, almost had two but I got distracted when I was asked a question thus losing track. (State Fairgrounds) Have to remember this for next year if I wish to catch another.

I have my place kept at 68 degrees as I know that they prefer a cooler temperature, now expecting some of the first workers within the next couple of weeks.

[rbarreto]

When do your P. imparis colonies come out of estivation?

[noebl1]

Mine are still in estivation since the June time frame +/-.  Their reserves are starting to get low looking at their gaster sizes, so hoping they will naturally start to forage soon.  The season 2 workers are also slowly eclosing in small batches of 2-3 at a time from the looks of it.  What's interesting is it appears they have been caring for the brood entirely off their stored food from the Spring as haven't seen them foraging at all for awhile. 

[rbarreto]

One of my colonies accepted a cut up mealworm and some honey whereas the other colony has completely reject anything I try to give them. The weird part is the colony that has rejected all  food is the only one with brood right now.

[YsTheAnt]

Here in the Bay Area, I saw a huge P. imparis foraging trail on a 75 degree afternoon in the middle of July . It might be best to feed them small quantities during estivation, as the brood usually continues to develop (from what I have read in research papers, and seen in my own colonies).