2124 replies to this topic

[noebl1]

Wow, only 66 F for the Temnothorax huh?

 

Yup, surprised me too when I saw it.  High of 88F that day and gradually cooled to the low 60s into midnight.  There was also high humidity earlier that day and a very brief shower at 6am of .01" of rain.

 

EDIT: Picture is worth a 1000 words:

Edited by noebl1, June 13 2017 - 5:39 PM.

[noebl1]

FWIW, small Camponotus flight going on right now.  Saw a handful of alates and dealates of queens, and several males.  

 

Also made an interesting observation about lighting.  I replaced a couple of the driveway lights this year that failed with LED bulbs.  The LED bulbs seemed to have a few Camponotus alates, and a handful of other insects.  The remaining bulb I had with a CFL bulb still was *covered* in insects.   Pretty good support for this thread about black lights vs using CFLs:  http://www.formicult...ens/#entry63835

[Aquaexploder]

Anyone know of any species that have fast growing colonies and are going to have their nuptials flights soon?

Edited by Aquaexploder, June 14 2017 - 2:57 PM.

[Nathant2131]

Anyone know of any species that have fast growing colonies and are going to have their nuptials flights soon?

Tetramorium perfectly fits your criteria 

[Aquaexploder]

Forgot to mention this but I actually found a Tetramorium (95% sure) queen without wings on Thursday of last week. Unfortunately I decided not to keep her because she only had 3 legs.

[Aquaexploder]

Still finding Camponotus drones here in Rhode Island.

[Nathant2131]

Two of my Lasius queens now have workers- one has 2 and the other has roughly 7-8. noebl1, how is yours doing?

[noebl1]

Two of my Lasius queens now have workers- one has 2 and the other has roughly 7-8. noebl1, how is yours doing?

 

Mine are super close and it's killing me  They are unheated however, so guessing slowing them down a bit.   Now wondering if they could be L. nearcticus (which is a bummer as I think I may have given my positive ID'ed L. neoniger away, oops.)  

 

 

[Nathant2131]

I keep mine heated and my room is very warm, so that's probably why. A lot of people say that Lasius are really timid but mine explore the outworld like nothing can stop them- they also excepted the liquidy, meaty part of a small mealworm (which dries into a flaky-like thing as soon as it escapes the body, making it easy for the workers to carry), and sunburst ant nectar. They explored the outworl as soon as I gave it to them; They seemed desperate for the protein.

Edited by Nathant2131, June 17 2017 - 7:22 AM.

[noebl1]

I keep mine heated and my room is very warm, so that's probably why. A lot of people say that Lasius are really timid but mine explore the outworld like nothing can stop them- they also excepted the liquidy, meaty part of a small mealworm (which dries into a flaky-like thing as soon as it escapes the body, making it easy for the workers to carry), and sunburst ant nectar. They explored the outworl as soon as I gave it to them; They seemed desperate for the protein.

 

That's good to know when they finally eclose.  I know my L. alienus seem to be pretty opportunistic as well and eat whatever.  

 

My P. imparis are slowing moving along as well and curious who's going to eclose first; these or the Lasius.

 

I got a couple shots of the brood spot for the Myrmica I caught, looks like 3 larvae and one egg (not really exciting enough to post).

 

On a totally random note, saw a Blanding's Turtle on our driveway this week and submitted a sighting to the State.  Never seen/heard of one before and apparently a threatened species in MA/NH/ME.

[Nathant2131]

Finally created an ID thread for the suspected Formica sp. dealate: http://www.formicult...717/#entry64153

 

Edit:

 

Edited by Nathant2131, June 18 2017 - 8:33 AM.

[noebl1]

I just found a Camponotus dealate outside, which is interesting as with all the rain, I doubt it was from a few days ago.

[Nathant2131]

Just found a Camponotus pennsylvanicus dealate walking around.

[noebl1]

Just found a Camponotus pennsylvanicus dealate walking around.

 

I just came back in and hadn't seen anything yet.  With the previous rains, and the heat and humidity, today seems like a good day.  Maybe Temnothorax or Tetramorium?

[Nathant2131]

So, Batspiderfish said he thinks the Formica dealate is Formica podzolica. If it really is, that's pretty neat since they have only been recorded in New England a few times, and I don't think at all in MA. She is dead now so I will get some better pictures to confirm the ID.

[Nathant2131]

Just found a P. imparis worker on a tree, so still active.

[Myrmidon]

The good thing about the rain is that the containers/pools I left out to catch the Tetra's are refilled! So convenient. Also actually kind of curious what else will fall into my traps.

[Aquaexploder]

Found a Tetramorium queen with wings in Maine yesterday. Don't worry, I know about the laws about transporting queens across state lines. Plus I didn't plan on keeping her since she probably hasn't mated since she was just leaving her colony when I found her.

Edited by Aquaexploder, June 18 2017 - 12:18 PM.

[noebl1]

I went out last night and didn't see anything flying.  Did anyone find anything this AM like Tetramorium?

[zkublin]

I went out last night and didn't see anything flying.  Did anyone find anything this AM like Tetramorium?

Same here and nothing this morning, which I am surprised by.  PS sorry for being quiet for so long, I just got back from my honeymoon last week and it has taken me a few days to get back to my normal routine.