240 replies to this topic

[Derpy]

Yeah, I caught a prenolepis imparis queen back in November, she is still alive, but no eggs:(

 
You 100% on the ID?  November seems really really early for P. imparis, well, at least for us on the East coast, not sure what California flight are like.  The Fall here is all Lasius flights, which look super-similar to P. imparis.

I was thinking that it may have been a prenolepis dumping flight, where all the alates that didn’t fly during nuptial flight season were evicted. But actually now that I think it, it might actually be a lasuis alienus queen.

[rdurham02]

Patiently awaiting for these guys to fly in New England since I totally missed them last year!

[noebl1]

Patiently awaiting for these guys to fly in New England since I totally missed them last year!

 

Not that long now   They flew in my area of MA last year on 4/10 (I believe south of us flew a day or two prior).  Looking at the temperature chart, they flew almost immediately when the air temperature broke 80F where I was. I saw a couple males prior when it was upper 70Fs, then shortly after it turned 80F they were *everywhere* by my office.  Sidewalks had little ruby colored alates and dealates wobbling around.

 

EDIT: It was also the first 80F degree day of the season.

Edited by noebl1, February 1 2018 - 2:38 PM.

[AntsMaryland]

Anyone knows when this species flys in Maryland?

[rdurham02]

 

Patiently awaiting for these guys to fly in New England since I totally missed them last year!

 

Not that long now   They flew in my area of MA last year on 4/10 (I believe south of us flew a day or two prior).  Looking at the temperature chart, they flew almost immediately when the air temperature broke 80F where I was. I saw a couple males prior when it was upper 70Fs, then shortly after it turned 80F they were *everywhere* by my office.  Sidewalks had little ruby colored alates and dealates wobbling around.

 

EDIT: It was also the first 80F degree day of the season.

 

Cool beans! Can't wait!

[Diesel]

do they fly in Maine?

[noebl1]

do they fly in Maine?

 

@batspiderfish had reported seeing them in Portland on 4/29/17.

 

EDIT:  I found that in my email archive from the Massachusetts Anting thread, but looks like his post was deleted (as I couldn't find it).

Edited by noebl1, February 1 2018 - 4:44 PM.

[T.C.]

They flew in Wisconsin on April 17th last year  believe. Don't quote me on that though.

[VoidElecent]

They flew in Wisconsin on April 17th last year  believe. Don't quote me on that though.

 

Quoted. You asked for it, bud. 

 

I wanted to clarify for those of you who were still unsure or unaware. Prenolepis imparis are typically the first ants to fly in the year; that does not mean that they consciously keep track of time and shove alates out of the nest on a particular date. They will, however, use environmental cues such as outside surface temperature to accurately time initiation of nuptial flights. In most locations, this happens to coincide with March and April timelines.

 

For example, Prenolepis imparis first flew heavily in late February last year, in Philadelphia. This wasn't because they thought they'd come out early— it was because it was the second or third relatively warm day of the year. I'd simply check the weather forecast every once in a while and count the warm days; Prenolepis will likely fly on the second, third, and fourth days above 60° - 65° F.

 

Now, this could mean a couple things. For one, you can probably expect winter ants to fly in warmer locations such as the South or California (as we have already experienced) up to a few months earlier than in Northern states. Second, with globally increasing temperatures, you can probably expect them to fly earlier than historical records might indicate. 

 

Good luck everyone!

[Skwiggledork]

Is it 60F-65F I read somewhere it was usually the second day 50F+.

[noebl1]

I don't think people were expecting the same dates as absolutes ( at least I hope they weren't ), but I think just looking approx time frames as you suggested. 

 

I'm intrigued to hear they fly at the lower temperatures of 60-65F, as everything I have seen is 70-80F.  However, mostly that's been observations/posts by people and not any scientific research so may not be the most accurate.  Last year we had three 65-70F days in a row on Feb 23-25th with no flights observed.  It didn't rain until the 25th when it looks like a cold front went thru.  It was then below 60F the entire month of March until they flew April 10th when it hit 80F (and broke 60F for the first time since Feb 25th).  

 

EDIT:  For clarity, Feb 23-25th were also the first days of 2017 above 60F since the Fall.

Edited by noebl1, February 2 2018 - 4:02 PM.

[VoidElecent]

I think exact temperatures can get fuzzy, too; it's all relative.

 

For example, I'd say the average temperature in January in Philadelphia last year hovered around 20° F; 60°-65° was a huge leap from that. According to YsTheAnt, they flew yesterday in Cupertino in at 72° F. I've heard of flights in Canada at 50° F, and flights in Florida at 80° F. If the temperature in your region is typically very low, I wouldn't wait around for a sunny 85° F summer day, the Prenolepis colonies in your region of North America have probably adapted to fly in moderately, but sufficiently warm weather.

 

Now that I think about it, you could probably establish some sort of a relationship between temperature, time of day, time of year, and location of nuptial flights. It would be interesting to see how they come together.

 

I'm no expert on the matter, this is just what I've learned from my own anting exploits and much more experienced hobbyists on the forum.

Edited by VoidElecent, February 2 2018 - 6:51 PM.

[Derpy]

Today YsTheAnt, another one of my friends who isn't on the forum, and I found over 80 prenolepis queens!

Edited by Derpy, February 3 2018 - 10:17 AM.

[noebl1]

I think exact temperatures can get fuzzy, too; it's all relative.

 

For example, I'd say the average temperature in January in Philadelphia last year hovered around 20° F; 60°-65° was a huge leap from that. According to YsTheAnt, they flew yesterday in Cupertino in at 72° F. I've heard of flights in Canada at 50° F, and flights in Florida at 80° F. If the temperature in your region is typically very low, I wouldn't wait around for a sunny 85° F summer day, the Prenolepis colonies in your region of North America have probably adapted to fly in moderately, but sufficiently warm weather.

 

Now that I think about it, you could probably establish some sort of a relationship between temperature, time of day, time of year, and location of nuptial flights. It would be interesting to see how they come together.

 

I'm no expert on the matter, this is just what I've learned from my own anting exploits and much more experienced hobbyists on the forum.

 

This is one of the best ideas/theories/hypothesis I have read, thanks for posting this

Edited by noebl1, February 3 2018 - 7:39 AM.

[YsTheAnt]

Also, they have flown for the past 3 days, maybe even today, so keep in mind that they might fly for multiple days in a row.

[Solenoqueen]

Where should I look for these

Sorry I'm in San Diego I'm very clueless as well.

[noebl1]

On a different tangent from collecting...

 

Has anyone seen P. imparis laying behaviour?  The P. imparis I collected last April laid very late, and the first workers weren't hatching until July.  She did not lay a second time in the Fall.  On Dec 1st I put them into the basement for 50F degree temps (as suggested by Goldsystem who's had success), and pulled them out about Feb 1st.  They've started taking food (well they never technically stopped), and killed one of the workers and ate her, so I added some protein and they ate that as well.  Today I noticed the queen (who barely moves what so ever), has been pacing around the cotton ball of her test tube, rubbing/tapping her gaster against the cotton.  I'm hoping she's considering re-laying for her second time, but not sure if this is just typical behaviour I haven't observed before. Thanks!

Edited by noebl1, February 4 2018 - 8:44 AM.

[Jamie_Garrison]

I am Jacksonville Florida,  I just got back from a cruise I hope i did not miss them flying???

[Jadeninja9]

I just read the article that was put into circulation earlier on in this thread.

http://www.bio.fsu.e...ions/1987-3.pdf

I found something really interesting: “Temperature almost certainly plays a role in the length of the estivation period 1 to 2 months in ohio, 7 to 8 months Florida.” This means that depending on the climate where you live, your ants will be active for more of the year or for less.

[YsTheAnt]

I just read the article that was put into circulation earlier on in this thread.

http://www.bio.fsu.e...ions/1987-3.pdf

I found something really interesting: “Temperature almost certainly plays a role in the length of the estivation period 1 to 2 months in ohio, 7 to 8 months Florida.” This means that depending on the climate where you live, your ants will be active for more of the year or for less.

For the bay, I think it is late September to march, when the colonies around me stop foraging, I'll know for sure. Another way people tell is that when they are preparing for estavation(? Idk how to spell), the foragers and all workers are almost always at least semi-repletes.