2124 replies to this topic

[Myrmidon]

Flight here as well. Lots of males and I just saw a pennsylvanicus queen.

Edited by Myrmidon, June 11 2017 - 6:05 PM.

[noebl1]

All C. pennsylvanicus here too now. Grabbed a few more for the city dwellers as are still very active right now. Already lost one queen I caught an hour ago; that was quick. Weird flight as not millions at once, but a slow steady stream.

[Nathant2131]

These flights are messing me up since they fly too late

[noebl1]

Just finished getting the Camponotus from last night into test tubes.  I know other than their jaws, they are harmless (i.e. no sting), however since I don't want to loose them in the house, pretty stressful moving them from collecting to founding tubes 

[ctantkeeper]

A few Tetramorium alates were found in spider webs / in and around a local pool in my apartment complex in CT. Approximately 5 males and 3 queens. one was found alive in a pool after being revived and is barley alive at that. all queens still have their two pairs of wings still attached. hopefully I can expect more tomorrow. I went on a mile-long walk around town (it is 92 degrees!!!) and found absolutely nothing. I am exhausted.

[Aquaexploder]

Camponotus still flying, I found what I believe to be a C. pennsylvanicus queen with one wing today.

[noebl1]

I just went out and nothing here tonight.   Next up is probably Tetramorium followed by Temnothorax flights  

[akaant]

Found this little gal today. My closest guess is that she's Stenamma sp.

[Nathant2131]

I agree with Stenamma. You just found her wandering?

[ctantkeeper]

I found a camponotus pennsylvanicus queen (de-alate), several C. pennsylvanicus males as well as a ton of Lasius claviger males.

Edited by ctantkeeper, June 13 2017 - 4:24 AM.

[noebl1]

I found a camponotus pennsylvanicus queen (de-alate), several C. pennsylvanicus males as well as a ton of Lasius claviger males.

 

 

Is it possible they were L. alienus or L. interjectus that do fly in June/July?  I didn't think L. claviger flew until the Fall?

[ctantkeeper]

 

I found a camponotus pennsylvanicus queen (de-alate), several C. pennsylvanicus males as well as a ton of Lasius claviger males.

 

 

Is it possible they were L. alienus or L. interjectus that do fly in June/July?  I didn't think L. claviger flew until the Fall?

 

It's possible, I didn't see any queens so its kind of hard to tell.

[Myrmidon]

Still pretty quiet on this end. Nothing happened last night either. Been stalking the Tetra's every morning as I sip my coffee. Haha. They usually fly in the AM right? I thought I read that somewhere.

[noebl1]

 

It's possible, I didn't see any queens so its kind of hard to tell.

 

Good point; Lasius IDs are notoriously tough, and the male alates are even harder. 

 

@Myrmidon  My understanding is Tetramorium flying in the very early AM where by 6am they had already flown and collected in huge numbers in a pool.  That being said, I have found stragglers in the early evening, but in very low numbers (so very possible still looking for a place to settle.)   

[Cindy]

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

As far as I know, any property managed by the Massachusetts DCR is off-limits without a permit. I emailed the DCR a few months ago and they told me that it would be illegal to remove any organism from their parks (no blue hills anting for me, haha). They also noted that the purpose behind this rule was to limit the spread of invasive species.

[akaant]

I agree with Stenamma. You just found her wandering?

Yes. along a road with woods on one side.

[noebl1]

I'm guessing tonight will be a bust with the front and thunderstorms coming thru.  Probably too early for Pheidole ants to fly too?

[Myrmidon]

We didn't get any rain and when I opened my porch door I almost squashed this young lady:

 

 

I'm not sure if she wandered far from her nest entrance because I don't see a mass horde of ants flying around yet but... this is a good indicator it may very well happen tonight or tomorrow AM (if it isn't already)! Woo!

[noebl1]

I took a look an hour ago at the two large Tetramorium colonies in my yard, and they were very very active, but no signs yet of alates.  We ended up only getting a brief sprinkle and it cleared right it up here.  Still 78F and 67% humidity here, so still good for flights, though humidity here is dropping fast as looks like the front line may have gone thru.

 

Wondering if Camponotus are done for the season for any major flights?  Definitely less this year than last year which was biblical here in numbers, so drought may have had an effect here.

 

This is getting into the season for perfect Temnothorax weather too, which is getting close as last year started flying on 6/29. "Date of collection: 6-29-2016 at 9:45PM EST, 66F, 81% humidity"

 

May be time to try setting up a black light trap.

[Nathant2131]

Wow, only 66 F for the Temnothorax huh?