2124 replies to this topic

[ConcordAntman]

 

All three are sitting on a brood pile and appear healthy so far. From what I'm reading I plan to feed after the first nanitics eclose, but what? Freeze/thawed insects? Honey? Sugar water? 

[greenavacado]

@noebl1 great pics of the swarming! L. Interjectus definitely are pretty cool looking, I let mine go shortly after catching since I don't have a Lasius colony to help start. Best of luck! 

 

Seems like there was a big Tetra flight up here as well, found 1 Tetra queen and countless male alates(mostly dead, but they're everywhere)

[fleetingyouth]

The Tetramorium nests in my yard flew today all opened wide. found 3 new queens and a couple males. The carpenter ants in my driveway went insane too I'm pretty sure they collected all the dead males as I saw a couple scurry off with some. 

 

I found all 3 of my queens in my driveway where there are a couple big nests. 

 

Might take a walk and look for more later. Havent seen any other species yet. 

[zkublin]

@mallonje I noticed the same, except I was on the cold end of it, when you sent that I was 72F, and not too far away, crazy.

@zkublin Congrats on the new puppy! Drones of Tetramorium have much smaller gasters and look more wasp like than the queens. I'd rinse them off briefly (they can take water for a bit), maybe put some paper towels in the zip log bags as well.

I was out for a couple hours black lighting and didn't get anything other than many june beetles as temp dropped pretty quick to 70F after the sun went down. This is when I stopped seeing the Camponotus, so guessing it was too cool (betting today may be better.)

I have one shot to try to get this L. interjectus to try to found which stinks, was hoping for more. Her jaws look brutal compared to the L. umbratus queens.

[zkublin]

@mallonje I noticed the same, except I was on the cold end of it, when you sent that I was 72F, and not too far away, crazy.

@zkublin Congrats on the new puppy! Drones of Tetramorium have much smaller gasters and look more wasp like than the queens. I'd rinse them off briefly (they can take water for a bit), maybe put some paper towels in the zip log bags as well.

I was out for a couple hours black lighting and didn't get anything other than many june beetles as temp dropped pretty quick to 70F after the sun went down. This is when I stopped seeing the Camponotus, so guessing it was too cool (betting today may be better.)

I have one shot to try to get this L. interjectus to try to found which stinks, was hoping for more. Her jaws look brutal compared to the L. umbratus queens.

I can’t tell the difference between any of the gasters for any of the aliates I caught. And unfortunately I can’t figure out if they are drones or queens, I will post pics if i can for some help. So I assume I got a ton of queens or a ton of drones. Drones don’t live too long after flying though right? So if they are still alive tomorrow can I assume they are queens?

[noebl1]

@zkublin  Heads will be tiny on the males too, and they'll probably be dying very very soon, so you'll know

[mallonje]

Wing scars First. 

Tiny Heads Second. 

Fat round (not pointy ended) gastors Third.

Alive a day or two later Fourth. 

[mallonje]

Under the caveat of "under normal conditions"  - when do Formica normally fly in Mass? I ask because I found a little local meadow just rotten with formica, that I've been keeping an eye on, and I think I noticed today that they are all beginning to widen their mound entrances.  

Edited by mallonje, June 30 2018 - 5:42 PM.

[noebl1]

I saw a handful of Camponotus drones last night on my black light, not seeing any signs of flights by me, but people closer to Boston reported to find queens today.  Also another L. interterjectus flight last night.

 

This AM finding dealates of Tetramorium, so looks like they also flew again this AM.    

 

Formica are starting to fly @mallonje, so worth checking them out for sure. People reported Formica flying Friday closer to Boston.  Today is supposed to be very hot and humid (hottest so far), so today is an ideal day for flights of many kinds.

[noebl1]

Didn't see much last night, wonder if we need a bit of rain, maybe today?

 

BTW saw this over on Discord:

Lasius alienus in North America is now Lasius americanus.
Lasius flavus in North America is now Lasius brevicornis.
Lasius umbratus in North America is now Lasius aphidicolus.
Leptothorax muscorum in North America is now Leptothorax canadensis.
Formica fusca in North America is now Formica subaenescens.

 

https://onlinelibrar....1111/jbi.13380

[fleetingyouth]

So I managed to catch 5 Tetra queens and 4 have started to lay eggs. 3 have nice little piles and are tending to them one is scattered. 

 

I felt them alone all weekend and I'm going to leave them for a week before I check again. 

 

2 questions.

 

One, I was thinking of putting them in my garage its like a big shed with open windows but secure from elements. Its usually the same temps as outside inside except maybe a little cooler on the hottest days and a little warmer on colder. Seems like a good place to keep them but wanted to check first. 

 

Two, the cotton ball that seals the water how much of it should be wet? I have them so just a little water on the sides gets to the edge without leaking but most the part that is near the ant is dry. 

 

thanks for all the info

[greenavacado]

@fleetingyouth I'm kind of a newbie at this but from what I understand the water line should be right to the edge of the cotton, so that the surface is slightly moist. I think it serves a dual purpose, as the water keeps a constant humidity, but also gives the ants a water source to drink.

 

Hoping last night's showers and the intense heat today gives us some freedom flights

Happy 4th everyone!

[RhodyAnts]

Got 4 queens off my car this morning. I'm guessing tetramorium. here's hoping I get a sustainable colony this year.

 

Might try blacklighting for some temnothorax, and I found some termites in a nearby park. My try to set up a feeder colony.

Edited by RhodyAnts, July 4 2018 - 10:58 AM.

[Aquaexploder]

Tetramorium and Temnothorax flying here in RI! I found a dealate of both species walking right next to each other!

[noebl1]

Temnothorax have been flying here too, they were everywhere last night.  Any night that's warm and humid, about 9-10pm they start flying, and are attracted to white reflective surfaces with even a slight light to it (my deck LEDs attract them in huge numbers).  While I did have some success with them black lighting, I had better luck on the deck.

 

Tip for Temnothorax:  Don't bother grabbing any with wings, they are likely unmated.  I find they tend to settle on posts, male and females, mingle a bit, and then will drop wings fairly quickly after mating.  

[mallonje]

After having little to no luck the past 3 days, I just found a queen scurrying across my back porch.

Tiny, maybe 2mm, jet black, no hair.


Working on the ID now.

[noebl1]

I'm seeing some Temnothorax alates out now, looks like they took up residence in my deck lights...  I can see them from underneath.

 

@mallonje  I grabbed a handful of Tetramorium alates in case you didn't find any.

[ConcordAntman]

My 3 queens and their broods are ticking along. In perhaps 2-3 weeks the first nanitics will eclose.
http://www.formicult...a-9ffcc6b32c02/
I’ve gotten more test tubes and additional AC test tube portals. Once the nanitics eclose, I’ll use the test tube portals as foraging chambers and the addition test tubes to change out the founding tubes so I can clean them.

Edited by ConcordAntman, July 6 2018 - 4:46 PM.

[noebl1]

My 3 queens and their broods are ticking along. In perhaps 2-3 weeks the first nanitics will eclose.
http://www.formicult...a-9ffcc6b32c02/
I’ve gotten more test tubes and additional AC test tube portals. Once the nanitics eclose, I’ll use the test tube portals as foraging chambers and the addition test tubes to change out the founding tubes so I can clean them.

 

Looks like the gallery may be private

 

My Camponotus are all getting close except for one C. americanus is a week or so behind the others.  My P. imparis I think laid a bit more eggs, so maybe this colony won't collapse, though they are still pretty boring of all my ants...

 

Have to admit this was a bizarre season, I don't think the giant Camponotus flight happened this year in the North east.  I've seen multiple people from NY thru ME on Discord, and no one saw it.  Very very strange.  Then again, as a home owner I'm not complaining.

[ConcordAntman]

 
Looks like the gallery may be private

I’m clearly not getting how to post pictures