2124 replies to this topic

[noebl1]

I saw this too!! It seems we have finally shook off the thirties and below for this Spring. 

 

Despite the snow, I'm going to go outside soon to see how snow-resisitant these Winter Ants really are...

 

I just came back inside from shoveling and playing with the kids who were getting stir crazy.  Didn't see any ants, but definitely flies of different types out today.  

[Nathant2131]

Been seeing some flies too. Before the snow we had a couple days ago I found an Ellychnia corrusca adult at the base of a tree... While my favorite P. imparis colony in my yard were drinking up some sap off their favorite tree...

[Cindy]

P imparis are foraging in my backyard! Captured a worker and will upload pics soon.

[Nathant2131]

P imparis are foraging in my backyard! Captured a worker and will upload pics soon.

Nice. You have snow cover down there in Randolph right now?

 

 

Also, holy crap-Looking out my window there seems to be a lot less snow than there was only an hour ago.

Edited by Nathant2131, April 2 2017 - 11:02 AM.

[Cindy]

No snow as far as I can see. It is super sunny and 57 F

[Nathant2131]

51 in Dracut here... plenty warm for P. imparis to be foraging but the snow cover might affect that. I'm going outside right now.

[Nathant2131]

I saw Nothing- Almost all the ground is covered in snow so no ant could get anywhere if they tried.

[Cindy]

I actually found 4 different types of ants. I'll upload the photos now once I figure out how to format them. I only have 3 photos available though. The 4th one I couldn't catch (was a small, reddish ant around ~1-2mm.

[noebl1]

I just pulled the last of my ants out of hibernation today as if it wasn't for the snow... they'd be active here for sure.  I had brought the cooler up to 52F a couple weeks ago, so they were all fairly active when I took them out.  

 

We hit 57F in Tyngsboro today before it started dropping.  Glad I didn't overboard snowblowing driveway as figured it would melt, and was right

 

Same as @Nathant2131, too much snow here so not see ants of any types yet.  Though I don't think there's any P. Imparis in the immediate area of my property anyways.

[Cindy]

[Nathant2131]

Yep P. imparis. Well fed.

[Nathant2131]

Was outside for a while today. Some P. imparis foraging, and even a Tetramorium colony under a flat rock. They did not seem to have surfaced yet, but they were very alert.

 

And, I was sifting through some leaf litter, and I uncovered a P. imparis mound with males boiling out the top! Technically, they were not "outside" the nest since they were under leaf litter but this is a great sign. Got some video from after I uncovered them:

 

That moment when you realize you recorded vertically...   

 

 

And look at this weather! Sixties and Seventies next Mon-Wed. We might see some alates??!

 

 

 

[noebl1]

Wow, nice find!  I bet if the weather holds up, they'll be flying next week.  Upper 50s, then 66F followed by 74F... looks super promising.

 

Sunny areas here are almost totally devoid of snow, but shaded areas have 1 -4" still.  SO close

[Salmon]

It was really warm here and I checked a couple places where I've seen P. imparis nests, but didn't see any. All I found was Tetramorium under a rock.

[Cindy]

Saw some Tetramorium when I was at home today. No P. Imparis, but that may have more to do with the fact that I arrived home at 6 PM

[Nathant2131]

Saw some Tetramorium when I was at home today. No P. Imparis, but that may have more to do with the fact that I arrived home at 6 PM

Were the Tetras foraging or just in their nest?

[Cindy]

They were foraging along the pavement!

[Nathant2131]

WOW, so apparently the news says it will hit 80's here on Tues! Wunderground and the weather app beg to differ (74-75 F) but it seems the forecast is still climbing as the week goes on, so who knows. Rained pretty good here too (on top of the fairly warm temps) so 95% of the snow is gone. I am highly convinced we will get at least some alates surfacing, maybe even a flight!

 

My mind is mushy with excitement 

Edited by Nathant2131, April 4 2017 - 1:24 PM.

[noebl1]

Wow, I didn't realize it was going to be 60s then into 70s for a few days.  That's really encouraging for flights.  The office I'm at Mon doubting I'll see anything as no forested areas, but Tues is a much much better office location, so hoping I'll see some then.  Time to get my anting kit back into my work bag.

 

... also means when we go outside during the day, a bit of teasing from coworkers for carrying around test tubes... hehe

[randeee]

Best of luck to everyone looking for queens next week Super excited.