2124 replies to this topic

[Cindy]

Oh must've been parasitic lasius. I still can't see any camponotus alates! Found some ticks though

[Cindy]

Found a dead camponotus sp. Queen.

[Nathant2131]

Really disappointed tonight. In all, I could only find 7 queens. I couldn't even tell it was a flight. I wonder if they'll fly again?

[zkublin]

Looks like I may have gotten ahead of myself as well, or the flights are just extreamly localized. Once I left the area where I work it has been hard to find any dealates. Not sure if this is just a small flight or if this is going to be a trend of very localized flights.

[Myrmidon]

There was flights in Tewksbury MA around 3:45 pm of C. pennsylvanicus. But at that point I didn't have any tubes.

 

I'm still going to camp outside for a bit and have the lights on. See what flies on the patio. I'll keep you posted! I want more C. chromaiodes, I like the red coloring (also red is kind of one of my favorite colors).

 

Confirmed at 8:32 pm. C. pennsylvanicus again!

Edited by Myrmidon, May 18 2017 - 4:33 PM.

[Nathant2131]

Recap:

 

at about 5:00  while in the car back home, I saw a few Camponotus alates flying around, only 2 or 3. 

 

When I got home at about 5:30, My Dad said he found a queen, and indeed it was. I think it was a Myrmentoma C. novaeboracensis queen. he also said there was a huge black one that he was not able to catch for me, which was probably C. pennsylvanicus. After looking really hard in the yard, All I could find were 2 C. pennsylvanicus and 1 Myrmentoma C. novaeboracensis queen alate. 

 

At about 6:45, I went up to the Dracut-Lowell State Forest. All I found was 1 C. pennsylvanicus dealate walking, and 3 C. pennsylvanicus alates under logs/rocks. 

 

What really stunned be about this day was that other than the 2-3 alates that I found while in the car, there was nothing mating or flying. Just queens on the surface. 

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Ants I found in The Dracut-Lowell State Forest: (note that this forest is dense and wet with mostly pine, but also plenty of hardwoods)

 

Tapinoma sessile- I can fairly easily find workers foraging, or find a nest under a small rock. They seem common, but only in specific parts of the forest. One colony had many queens under a rock. They seem quite polygynous. When foraging, I find the workers often tending dandelions. When I uncovered another colony, all the workers scattered and crawled straight up my arm. They tickled me to death. 

 

Aphaenogaster sp.- I found many colonies of these under moist logs, and some foraging. One of the most common species in the forest, but less noticable due to medium size. They have very stick-like mesosomas, and a wavy type of movement. 

 

Camponotus pennsylvanicus- This species (without hesistation) is the dominator of this forest, and expectedly so. I find colonies under and in logs, and they heavily forage.

 

Formica (Fusca-group) sp.-  Right at the edge of where the forest starts, I found a large colony under a rock. I also think they heavily forage in the forest, but it was only quick glances so may just be Camponotus, but fairly sure they heavily forage here too.

 

Lasius umbratus- Yesterday I found loads of these queens that flew last year roaming around- More than if I looked in an open field. I wasn't extremely observent today as Camponotus queens are hard to miss, but I found just one today.

 

Lasius spp.- I see different forms of the bright yellow variations in this forest- all colonies under logs or rocks. I notice each colony noticably varies in size and color, so I assume more than one species. The Possibilities are flavus-group Lasius, and the social parasites.

 

Myrmica sp/spp.- I very occasionally see foraging workers, or foraging queens that flew last year.

 

Formica sp/spp.

 

Ponera pennsylvanica- I saw a few workers under a rock. Ths is the only time I've seen them, but probably miss them a lot due to their small size and similar color of their bodies to the dirt, and they are subterranean. 

 

Crematogaster sp.- Yesterday, I found a single colony under a log. the colony was extremely well hidden as I had to further lift the leaves under the log. This is only the second time I have ever seen this genus personally.

 

Tetramorium cf. caespitum.- I only ever found one colony of these under a rock, deep into the forest. I really like forests since there are very very little to no Tetramorium. Not a huge fan of them since they are non-native.

Edited by Nathant2131, May 19 2017 - 3:55 PM.

[Nathant2131]

Just found a bunch of pennsylvanicus and Myrmentoma queens tonight, they were everywhere. Also, the supposed Myrmentoma from before were novaeboracensis.

[akaant]

Found a  Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen in chicopee around 7 PM 15 min away from the house. I didn't find any queens flying back home. They seem to be ready but won't go! Very localized flights indeed.

[Myrmidon]

C. chromaiodes was also flying, albeit much less than pennsylvanicus. I was able to get another one at around 10:00 -10:30 pm! There were so many dealates for pennsylvanicus but I'm going to hold at lucky #7 in test tubes at this point. They were all definitely flying towards my lights so just leave some on and they will surely find themselves in that direction at some point.

 

I need to save some tubes for other species! Going to follow Nathant's lead and head to the State Park tomorrow! 

[Cindy]

I managed to find 2 C. pennsylvanicus alates at 10:30 PM. I have tomorrow off work so I may make a trip there as well (though not at night). The dead alate I found near my house was likely C. Chromaiodes.

[Myrmidon]

I managed to find 2 C. pennsylvanicus alates at 10:30 PM. I have tomorrow off work so I may make a trip there as well (though not at night). The dead alate I found near my house was likely C. Chromaiodes.

May she rest in peace. 

[Nathant2131]

It was strange, suddenly the dealates started popping out from everywhere. 80% of it was C. Pennsylvanicus, but also some Myrmentoma queens. Funny how they would try to fit into a too-small hole in a log, and try to snuggle into some bark.

Almost all the queens I found were on top of things, like side of house, top of gate, etc. I only saw one pennsylvanicus alate during this whole ordeal. Strange how dealates everywhere, but no alates.

[Nathant2131]

Thee are still queens everywhere on the walls... alates and dealates. Even saw a novaeboracensis, but most was pennsylvanicus.

[noebl1]

I saw mostly C. pennsylvanicus, and a couple Mrymentoma alates/dealates in the afternoon, all queens.  When I went out briefly last night before the thunderstorm, handful of C. pennsylvanicus queen alates, but mostly males of different types everywhere, especially attracted to lights.  The previous night's flight not sure I saw much of any males.

 

If last year is any indicator, these were just the first Camponotus flights, and should be more over the next 1-3 weeks.  Really the only variable (besides obviously the weather), is the drought from last season. 

Edited by noebl1, May 19 2017 - 3:49 AM.

[rdurham02]

Another find this morning. Perhaps C. noveboracensis.

 

[Nathant2131]

Went outside just now (87 f) and found one C.pennsylvanicus alate.

[noebl1]

Same here, in Maynard, MA today and saw a lone dealate C. pennsylvanicus a few mins ago wandering between buildings.

[Myrmidon]

I went for my hike and all I saw was C. pennsylvanicus dealates all over - walking across paved side walks/streets and in the forest itself they were the majority found under logs and rocks. Lucky find of the day; I was able to get a founding Lasius niger queen! So that's a bonus. Wasn't sure how long she was there for, obviously hibernated unless flights are abnormally fast this year. She inhaled a substantial drop of Sunburst nectar as soon as we got home so she was definitely hungry.

Edited by Myrmidon, May 19 2017 - 11:51 AM.

[noebl1]

I went for my hike and all I saw was C. pennsylvanicus dealates all over - walking across paved side walks/streets and in the forest itself they were the majority found under logs and rocks. Lucky find of the day; I was able to get a founding Lasius niger queen! So that's a bonus. Wasn't sure how long she was there for, obviously hibernated unless flights are abnormally fast this year. She totally inhaled a substantial drop of Sunburst nectar as soon as we got home so she was definitely hungry.

 

Probably Lasius alienus as L. niger is pretty unusual for around here.  If you take some close ups, @batspiderfish can probably ID.  From what I recall, he needs some serious close ups of the head and jaws.

Edited by noebl1, May 19 2017 - 1:54 PM.

[Myrmidon]

 

I went for my hike and all I saw was C. pennsylvanicus dealates all over - walking across paved side walks/streets and in the forest itself they were the majority found under logs and rocks. Lucky find of the day; I was able to get a founding Lasius niger queen! So that's a bonus. Wasn't sure how long she was there for, obviously hibernated unless flights are abnormally fast this year. She totally inhaled a substantial drop of Sunburst nectar as soon as we got home so she was definitely hungry.

 

Probably Lasius Alienus as L. niger is pretty unusual for around here.  If you take some close ups, @batspiderfish can probably ID.  From what I recall, he needs some serious close ups of the head and jaws.

 

Oooh, you might be right! I didn't look at this particular species pics but I see the resemblance too. I'll get a pic!

 

 

Updated: pics are uploaded! 

Edited by Myrmidon, May 19 2017 - 12:22 PM.