2124 replies to this topic

[Nathant2131]

Lasius Umbratus still flying too (thanks Batspiderfish and Nathant for ID).

They probably aren't flying at this time of year. If you are seeing dealates walking around, those are queens that flew last year, overwintered, and seek host colonies hence their parasitism.

Edited by Nathant2131, June 11 2017 - 3:00 AM.

[Myrmidon]

I ended up passing out early last night. Womp womp. Did a quick look for potential Tetramorium flights just now - nothing yet.

 

Also I think it's kind of neat that we all found random Formica queens. Formica randomnia.

[Kevin]

Tetramorium flights started in South Jersey, should happen soon for you guys too.

[noebl1]

Not to far off from last year either; 6/30 was a pretty substantial flight for them up here.  For people with pools, Tetramorium seem to be captured in large numbers in them.  A coworker caught over a dozen of them from a pool for me last Summer, and had 100% survival rate of them (so chemicals didn't seem to bother them.)

[VoidElecent]

I went anting from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM. In all, I found:

 

• 1 Camponotus sp. male
• 2 Camponotus pennsylvanicus alates
• Roughly 12 Camponotus pennsylvanicus dealates
• 1 Camponotus novaeboracensis dealate
• 1 Formica (?) dealate walking around

I unfortunately could not find any Camponotus americanus, not even a worker.

 

Is the Formica queen in the fusca group? I don't understand how so many people are finding random Formica dealates so soon!

[Nathant2131]

I went anting from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM. In all, I found:

• 1 Camponotus sp. male
• 2 Camponotus pennsylvanicus alates
• Roughly 12 Camponotus pennsylvanicus dealates
• 1 Camponotus novaeboracensis dealate
• 1 Formica (?) dealate walking around

I unfortunately could not find any Camponotus americanus, not even a worker.

Is the Formica queen in the fusca group? I don't understand how so many people are finding random Formica dealates so soon!

I am not sure, but it is uniformly black and looks very similar to an F. subsericea worker, so my bet is fusca group. This might be a fluke queen, I don't know. I'll get an ID on it soon.

[noebl1]

Still seeing male and female alates/dealates this morning.  Just caught a couple Camponotus noveboracensis for @randee.  Quite a few Camponotus pennsylvanicus roaming around as well.

Edited by noebl1, June 11 2017 - 7:47 AM.

[Nathant2131]

I haven't seen any queens or males so far today.

[Myrmidon]

Still seeing male and female alates/dealates this morning.  Just caught a couple Camponotus noveboracensis for @randee.  Quite a few Camponotus pennsylvanicus roaming around as well.

If you happen to have any extras, I'll be happily to take some off your hands.

[noebl1]

I haven't seen any queens or males so far today.

 

Definitely spotty, but found a bunch in a 15-20min period. We have our foundation sprayed, so only grab the ones not near the house or else it's a waste of time as they die within 24 hours.  I wonder if tonight is going to be busy as hot and very humid (perfect conditions.)  

 

@Myrmidon  I'll keep grabbing some extras for you as well.

[Myrmidon]

 

 

 

Definitely spotty, but found a bunch in a 15-20min period. We have our foundation sprayed, so only grab the ones not near the house or else it's a waste of time as they die within 24 hours.  I wonder if tonight is going to be busy as hot and very humid (perfect conditions.)  

 

@Myrmidon  I'll keep grabbing some extras for you as well.

 

Thanks so much! Happy to compensate/trade when the time comes to exchange!

[Nathant2131]

http://forum.antscan...t=900&start=310

Someone from ACAF caught a Tetra queen in MA yesterday.

[Nathant2131]

You guys finding anything?

[noebl1]

Just saw a male Camponotus alate, and based on his liveliness, guessing not from last night.

[noebl1]

Nothing else yet...  I'll need to bring the recycling out later tonight, so will look when I'm out after dark.

[Nathant2131]

I just came back from a 2-3 hour expedition through the Dracut Lowell state forest- all I found was one C. pennsylvanicus alate under some bark.

Also found a C. americanus colony. Yahooo!

[rdurham02]

A big Camponotus flight in Maine this evening! 

[Nathant2131]

Dracut-Lowell State Forest

5:30 PM- 7:20 PM

 

generally speaking, this is how dense the forest is:

 

 

 

I found one wandering Lasius umbratus queen at one point. It does look like their numbers are decreasing.

 

The only thing I saw flight-related was a Camponotus pennsylvanicus alated under the bark of a fallen log, but I think it was from yesterday as it was already nested, and couldn't see any flights today (or at least so far, but I won't go outside again today)

 

And I was pleasantly surprised to find a Camponotus americanus olony in an open part of the otherwise very dense forest. The following pics are of their nest entrance structure and habitat. Pretty similar to akaants's picture. The workers seemed very timid, and sped back into their nest as soon as I started looming over them. There were only about 2-3 workers hanging out though.

 

 

[Volant]

Quick question, do you need a permit to collect queens in public state property?

[noebl1]

Camponotus flight going on right now, but not a huge one. Did fill 4 test tubes in 5 mins, and saw a handful more.