2124 replies to this topic

[rdurham02]

Suspected Ponera Pennsylvanica queen caught this afternoon 

 

http://www.formicult...maine-us-71517/

[noebl1]

Huge Temnothorax flight right now; may be biggest this season. Saw a termite alate as well. Those to our south keep an eye out for L. alienus.

[Aquaexploder]

Huge Temnothorax flight right now; may be biggest this season. Saw a termite alate as well. Those to our south keep an eye out for L. alienus.

Agreed. Huge Temnothorax flight here too.

[noebl1]

 

Huge Temnothorax flight right now; may be biggest this season. Saw a termite alate as well. Those to our south keep an eye out for L. alienus.

Agreed. Huge Temnothorax flight here too.

 

I didn't collect much unfortunately...  as already have a ton of them.  However this species is tough as last season I caught just two queens, both had wings, one laid and was definitely fertile, the other one did not so released her after 2 weeks.  She/workers didn't make it thru hibernation due to rookie mistakes on my part, however she had her wings the whole time.  I grabbed a couple more last night without wings (there were more without wings that normal).

 

 

That same spot on the deck was loaded with them too:

 

I noticed a handful Sat night, but was only 3 or 4 males, so wasn't worth really noting.  I also saw what looked like a Camponotus male alate (?!?).  I should have grabbed him as wonder if it was actually a Formica considering time of year and *super* late for Camponotus (unless it was a C. americanus.)

 

As I mentioned about L. alienus; this is about the time they start flying.  People in CT, etc that are a bit farther south may already start seeing them.  During the late evening watch them them queueing up flights at entrances.   At night they are readily attracted to lights.  However I only caught maybe 4 or 5 last year this way. 

[Connectimyrmex]

My termite colony has about 4-5 alate nymphs. Check for a large flight soon.

 

There was also a large Tetramorium flight near where I live. Check for alates.

 

I've also artificially inseminated an Aphaenogaster and Tapinoma queen!

[noebl1]

Another big Temnothorax flight right now

[ctantkeeper]

Found a T. Curvispinosis queen (de-alate), but had nothing to collect her with  .

[Salmon]

Camponotus pennsylvanicus just don't seem to stop flying... I saw an alate climbing around a nest tonight.

[Connectimyrmex]

I just saw a Temnothorax male on my window. I also ran into a slave maker formica queen, so keep an eye out for those too.

[Martialis]

Suspected Ponera Pennsylvanica queen caught this afternoon 

 

http://www.formicult...maine-us-71517/

 

Suspected Ponera Pennsylvanica queen caught this afternoon 

 

http://www.formicult...maine-us-71517/

 

Nice queen! These are in my yard

[Salmon]

It rained this afternoon, so I went out soon afterwards to check my usual P. pilifera haunts. Didn't see any evidence of nuptial flights or even any activity around most of the colonies.

[noebl1]

Another huge Temnothorax flight last night.  I didn't catch it at first as they were avoid the wet areas post-rain so when I initially looked outside I didn't see much.

 

The ones I've captured over the last couple weeks have random clusters of eggs.  Curious to see how many are actually fertile.

[Connectimyrmex]

My 4 temnothorax queens are all trying to stand over one specific pile of brood. One of them (the 4th) is very friendly, though, and tends all of the piles.

[Connectimyrmex]

Also look for S. Molesta queens soon. I saw alates under a rock. 

Also saw a crematogaster(?) queen's severed thorax and gaster lying on a rock.

[noebl1]

Just saw a random Camponotus pennsylvanicus alate... will they ever stop flying?

[Salmon]

My guess is no- I just saw about 12.

[noebl1]

Another huge Temnothorax flight right now.

[noebl1]

Quite a few Camponotus like @Salmon saw. Also caught a male slate of something else. Will have to post a pic for ID.

[noebl1]

It looks like may be an Aphaenogaster male. It's gaster is pretty distinct.

[noebl1]

Pretty certain this is an Aphaenogaster sp I found last night, maybe A. tennesseensis.  Unfortunately didn't have my macro on me for a 100% ID.