2124 replies to this topic

[zkublin]

 

As far as I could tell there was nothing flying closer to the city.  Couldn't find anything in Somerville, Allston or JP.  Fingers crossed for today.

 

I do wonder if local weather conditions can make small-clustered flights occur, and that makes the difference when the larger flights occur when conditions in a region are more uniform.  I didn't see anything flying while the winds yesterday were gusting pretty heavily.  Last night when I went out, it was hot and humid, and it was dead-calm winds wise.  I also have observed Camponotus for sure flying in late afternoons, so night is not a required for flight.  Obviously local conditions were right as quite a few things mating last night.  The grey tree frogs were also in full swing, probably loudest all season.  Several types of insects were quite busy as well.

 

Weather conditions last night during flight at 9pm:

 

74.7F

58% humidity

Barometer 29.83

No wind

Rain: 1.36" approx 48 hours prior

 

Observation #2:  When temps dropped to 72 around 10:10pm, flights seemed to tail off.  Not sure if time, temp, or other reasons caused flights to tail off.

 

Ya it was fairly windy all day/night near the city yesterday.  I have also noticed Camp. like to fly late afternoon and dusk time.  Today is not as windy here so I have a feeling we will see them fly closer to the city this afternoon.

[Myrmidon]

TIP 1:  C. pennsylvanicus... look down on low parts of walls, decks, etc, they usually don't climb a lot after they land.

 

TIP 2: Camponotus Myrmentoma... look *up*, especially on wooden railings.  They tend to land on a deck, and then move up.  Caught 3 Camponotus Myrmentoma so far, lost 2.  Every one on the deck.

 

FYI, so far this looks like a small flight as not seeing thousands... but they are all still flying this second.

 

C. pennsylvanicus are awful fliers when I was waiting to see them land, I would constantly hear a "tapping" against windows or walls of my house as if they were flying right into them before they hit the ground. Very graceful really.

 

Also apparently the reddish queen was a C. chromaiodes (thanks Alabama Anter for the ID confirmation!) but it was really just a lucky find - I found her on freshly mulched ground near my gardens where there was some small shrubs and trees. She was attempting to dig into the mulch itself. She was sited around 6:30-7 pm.

[Nathant2131]

Looking briefly outside, I couldn't see anything, just heavy foraging.

[noebl1]

I'm pretty certain the ones I got last night are Camponotus nearcticus.  Looks like a nice biolor as well where thorax is all reddish-brown and 1/2 the gaster.  Tried to get good pics, but she won't stop moving.  I tried using a small petri dish... didn't help so much.

 

Today will be interesting for flights, as according to NWS we're due for thunderstorms between 9-11pm depending on where in MA you are (west to east).  

[noebl1]

Looking briefly outside, I couldn't see anything, just heavy foraging.

 

Still a bit early IMHO.  I'm not sure I've spotted many flying before 4 or 5pm for afternoon flights in past times I've observed.

[noebl1]

[Cindy]

That is definitely C. nearcticus. My queens look the same!

[noebl1]

All three have different colorations which is interesting.  One still has wings, so not sure if fertile (typically find Camponotus drops wings pretty quickly).  The one above has the best coloration of the three.  

[Nathant2131]

What equipment did you use to take that?

[rdurham02]

Found this lady at the end of a long and trying week at work. Found her at the back exit by the door to the animal clinic I work at whilst taking out the trash yesterday evening around 4:30 PM in Westbrook, ME

[noebl1]

Canon 60D and 100mm lens, small petri dish (top removed).  Both camera and lens probably 6-7 years old at this point.  If I wasn't so lazy, I'd use a tripod for better shots as hands aren't the most steady.  Had to let her calm down in there for a good hour before she was relaxed enough to take the shots, especially with the cover removed.

 

Believe I finally saw my first Crematogaster on the property.  Also *think* last night I may have spotted P. imparis foraging too, but not 100% on that ID at all.  Saw another ant today trying to ID that I need to catch; about 6mm in size, potentially Aphaenogaster based on body shape.  They could shoot with incredible speed when alarmed, making it impossible to catch.  Made Formica ants seem sedate, LOL.

[noebl1]

Just spotted a Camponotus alate, they may be flying.


Edit: confirmed

Edited by noebl1, May 18 2017 - 12:43 PM.

[Nathant2131]

In the car rn... alates everywhere!

[Cindy]

I'm at work...

[zkublin]

I'm at work...

Me too.  However, if this is one of the big flights, it should be going on well into the night.  So I should be able to grab some when I get out of here in the next half hour or so.

[noebl1]

C. pennsylvanicus and Camponotus Myrmentoma spotted so far.  Not a huge flight yet as seeing one every 5-10mins.

[zkublin]

C. pennsylvanicus and Camponotus Myrmentoma spotted so far.  Not a huge flight yet as seeing one every 5-10mins.

At the moment it is definitely big here near the city.  I am still in the office and alates are gathering on all of the windows here (we are on the 4th floor).  Can't wait to get out and catch some!

[Nathant2131]

The flight seems really tiny here- literally all I've seen is 3 queens so far Caught 2. I said alates everywhere because I saw two at once, so figured there would be lots of action, hah. Hoping to trip to the State forest soon.

[Cindy]

I caught two queens and am unsure of what species they belong to. Definitely not camponotus. Is are parasitic lasius out right now?

[noebl1]

I saw a *ton* of parasitic Lasius today all over the grass, walk ways and even on the side of the house.  Camponotus are flying again; one just hit me off the side of the head while outside to grab the UPS boxes.