2124 replies to this topic

[Myrmidon]

I've used a similar DJ 365nm blacklight and it works fine! As for the mosquito trap version, I utilize one that has 2 UV bulbs at about 10W each and it spreads light in all four directions.

 

I originally got the idea from these forums and there seems to be another thread about it here: http://www.formicult...acklight-traps/which might prove to have more examples or descriptions. Obviously this is intended for flights that occur at night. Tetramorium, for example, are usually bright and early 6 am - 7 am (if not earlier) so this method would not work out so well for that kind of ant.

[Aquaexploder]

So is one antenna on a queen an issue?

[noebl1]

So is one antenna on a queen an issue?

I suspect if acting normal, she's probably fine.

[noebl1]

@zkublin Did any of those Tetramorium I caught back on 2016 I gave you make it?  Reason I ask is I kept 3 colonies, one died in 2017.  The 2nd queen died this Spring shortly out of hibernation, and I just lost the last of them today.  She kept leaving her test tube the last couple days so knew something was very wrong, and figured i'd find her dead when I got home.  What's weird is in all 3 of these cases, didn't lose a single worker, just the the queen acted a bit weird then die.

 

Now trying to decide, do I brood boost my existing 2017 Tetramorium, or freeze dispose of the whole colony in case it's something infectious.

 

Decision made, I checked the 2017 Tetramorium and they have a decent brood pile, to reduce risk of spreading something, I elected to destroy the colony.

Edited by noebl1, May 24 2018 - 2:45 PM.

[akaant]

Speak of the devil, and I'm not crazy!

So, here is a picture backing up my theory. This is a tetramorium caespitum colony swarming.

https://www.dropbox....3FsqYkQ0jtbJC8a

They are currently living under a black top path. Part of which was redone this fall so it is still very dark, and out in the sun most of the day.

And these are the same tetramorium I saw take flight the other day. Again sorry for the crappy shot - down the barrel of my pocket magnifier but they're 3-4mm and my phone just ain't cutting it.

Here you can see the petiole nodes.

https://www.dropbox...._41593.jpg?dl=0

Going to try and get some better shots.

Oh, and my book came today too!

Most likely 2 colonies fighting since its very common for this species . Flights won't happen till summer.

[akaant]

I have spare Camponotus chromaiodes, novaeboracensis and pennsylvanicus colonies from last year. Most of my C americanus queens laid eggs and will be available in 1.5-2 months.

[mallonje]

Most likely 2 colonies fighting since its very common for this species . Flights won't happen till summer.

 

Ah but that's the crazy part. I saw this colony, and another near by in a mid-morning 9am flight. The alates were climbing up a stockade fence and lifting off into the wind.  

[noebl1]

Small Camponotus flight right now.

[Aquaexploder]

That same queen that has one antenna now has 2 eggs! I am a little nervous though because I think she might be infertil. If I were to id her I would say C. Herculeanus because she is huge and has some red towards the back of her mesosoma and front of her gaster. Also according to A field guild to the ants of New England this species is polygynous? Can anyone confirm this?

[noebl1]

That same queen that has one antenna now has 2 eggs! I am a little nervous though because I think she might be infertil. If I were to id her I would say C. Herculeanus because she is huge and has some red towards the back of her mesosoma and front of her gaster. Also according to A field guild to the ants of New England this species is polygynous? Can anyone confirm this?

 

Post some pics and we can ID it.  C. herculeanus I don't think is reported in RI as a bit too warm overall.  TBH it's unusual where I live and I'm on the NH border    If it's not that, C. noveboracensis and C. chromaiodes are two possibilities.

 

I ended up seeing 12 queens and 3 drones last night in the span of about 30mins, so a small flight, but first drones I've really seen this season so means they are probably starting to ramp up their flights.  I'd keep an eye out today as well depending on the timing of the showers.  All C. pennsylvanicus as well last night which is a bummer.

[noebl1]

FYI just came across two Camponotus queens flying, so a flight may have started

 

EDIT:  Should also note they were *super* lively, so definitely not from last night

Edited by noebl1, May 26 2018 - 10:48 AM.

[noebl1]

Today looks like a dud.  Saw two queen alates at 2:30 (not coincidentally when the temperature peaked for the day at 2:29pm at 87F), and then just saw a couple male alates and a single queen alate of C. pennsylvanicus.  Got windy as the storms approach, so done for now.

[ConcordAntman]

I’m new to the forum and returning to the hobby after ~ 20 years. When I last tried to raise a colony (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) I just had E. O. Wilson’s text. I’m amazed by the online resources available now. I have 3 C pennsylvanicus queens in test tube setups. I caught the first over two weeks ago in my house. She appeared to be hibernating but became active once I placed her in the test tube setup. She’s still alive but no eggs so far. Caught the second 24 hours ago in my yard and she’s laid over 10 eggs! Just caught the third today so we’ll see what happens.

[noebl1]

@ConcordAntman:  Welcome to the group!  You located in Concord,MA, hence the name?  If so, I think some of us may be relatively local to you.

 

The last couple of weeks have been very strange for flights.  I have been seeing Camponotus pennsylvanicus drones and queens off and on all day today flying, but no consistency at all. 

[Myrmidon]

C. Pennsylvanicus flight happening in my yard. Just caught 2 by opening the door really quick. Haha.

Edited by Myrmidon, May 26 2018 - 5:23 PM.

[noebl1]

I just went out flashlight spotting and saw a handful of C. pennsylvanicas alates, dealates and drones as well. Nothing else though 😟

[Myrmidon]

Yeah, I'm not seeing any chromaiodes

[ConcordAntman]

@ConcordAntman:  Welcome to the group!  You located in Concord,MA, hence the name?  If so, I think some of us may be relatively local to you.
 
The last couple of weeks have been very strange for flights.  I have been seeing Camponotus pennsylvanicus drones and queens off and on all day today flying, but no consistency at all.

Thanks! It has been a curious spring. I’m between Walden Pond and White Pond. I’d been walking on the Concord portion of the Bruce Freeman bike path over the past month trying to find a C pennsylvanicus queen and nothing, then I find 4 queens in my yard. I missed a fifth on my back porch, couldn’t get to my capture tubes before she flew away. Myrmidon was right, there must have been a flight yesterday. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

[noebl1]

Nice! There indeed was a flight yesterday, but was a small one.  I'm still finding alates and drones randomly outside, as being so cold, they aren't moving very fast...

 

If this year is like previous years, in the next 1 - 4 weeks, there should be a pretty large flight that it will be pretty much impossible to miss the flight on   The anting season has literally just begun.

 

 

I'm still bumming a bit over the loss of my 2016 Tetramorium colony.  It's weird as on one hand I'm a bit disappointed as the longest queen I had ever kept.  At the same time, that colony was getting a bit hard to manage as they were constantly hungry, and was a challenge to keep them fed and also not have any escapees.  I should have known something was up, as colonies tend to get a little annoyed when I open the top to feed them, but that queen would absolutely lose her mind and would leave the test tube...  My 2017 Tetramorium queen does not have that issue at all.

 

Other than a freak incident (trying to find what wiped out my Lasius alienus test tube yesterday), things have been going well.  Both my Aphaenogaster colonies are still growing (the A. picea grows scarily fast), and my Myrmica queen I caught is laying like crazy.  She readily is eating whatever I give her too.  The four C. americanus queens all have small brood piles at this point still, and it's interesting to see how much color variation there is in this species.  There's one favorite, so I hope she makes it.  Both C. nearcticus queens also have small brood piles.   My Crematogaster queens are still getting close, but taking forever to eclose.  Finally have 6 or 7 Lasius still waiting to eclose to ID, they all have pupae now (except one I think is infertile as noticed all her brood shriveled up and had died.)

Edited by noebl1, May 27 2018 - 4:10 PM.

[Myrmidon]

 

@ConcordAntman:  Welcome to the group!  You located in Concord,MA, hence the name?  If so, I think some of us may be relatively local to you.
 
The last couple of weeks have been very strange for flights.  I have been seeing Camponotus pennsylvanicus drones and queens off and on all day today flying, but no consistency at all.

Thanks! It has been a curious spring. I’m between Walden Pond and White Pond. I’d been walking on the Concord portion of the Bruce Freeman bike path over the past month trying to find a C pennsylvanicus queen and nothing, then I find 4 queens in my yard. I missed a fifth on my back porch, couldn’t get to my capture tubes before she flew away. Myrmidon was right, there must have been a flight yesterday. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

 

 

Walden Pond is beautiful, you're lucky to be close! I'm hoping to see if I can find other species there but obviously it's closed during the later hours so it's hard to find ants active during the night. I'm ever on the search for other Camponotus species but I am intrigued about what other types I could find there. I look forward to seeing what you find.