2124 replies to this topic

[ConcordAntman]

We’re a little warmer now and my colonies are a bit more active. Still thinking about a heat lamp though. Also looking at a cheap UV lure for C americanus or C chromaiodes. For under $30 I got this



And this



To make this





It might be too cold now but I’m hoping it will work once it warms up.

Edited by ConcordAntman, May 13 2019 - 7:07 PM.

[ConcordAntman]

Spring seems plenty wet but still too cool for nuptial flights. Anyone seen C americanus or C chromaiodes?

[noebl1]

If we can get some upper 70Fs, the Camponotus Myrmentoma subgenus will likely fly.  However with this cool weather, not much will be flying unfortunately.  The larger Camponotus don't usually have peak flights until June.

[ConcordAntman]

If we can get some upper 70Fs, the Camponotus Myrmentoma subgenus will likely fly.  However with this cool weather, not much will be flying unfortunately.  The larger Camponotus don't usually have peak flights until June.

Oh, good to know! I had on my lined jacket & gloves today🥶. I was looking at Drew’s Queen Ant Spotting/Mating Chart for North America
http://www.formicult...g-chart/?p=1004
According to his chart, C americanus & C chromaiodes flights seemed to peak in April & May. I caught my C pennsylvanicus in mid-May.

[ConcordAntman]

We’re supposed to be in the 70’s. Any chance for flights this weekend?

[noebl1]

We’re supposed to be in the 70’s. Any chance for flights this weekend?

P. imparis *maybe*, though getting late for them.

 

Monday however is an interesting day, as if it hits the 80Fs, there's a good chance C. Myrmentoma may fly.

[TennesseeAnts]

C. americanus flew in Tennessee on April 5 when it was 80 degrees at 6:30 pm near the woods.

[noebl1]

C. americanus flew in Tennessee on April 5 when it was 80 degrees at 6:30 pm near the woods.

 

 

 

Just checked my notes, and C. americanus and C. pennsylvanicus flew May 17th last year, so that's a good point.  I suspect Monday could be the first Camponotus flight of the season if the weather holds out.

[ConcordAntman]

Caught my first queens 5/19/18. Got my UV setup ready for C. americanus 🤞🏽

Edited by ConcordAntman, May 18 2019 - 9:59 AM.

[noebl1]

I've not had much luck with Camponotus alates with black lights, but I do know that other's down south have caught other ground dwelling Camponotus like C. castaneus via black light, so it's worth a shot. For C. pennsylvanicus, I only saw males last year attracted to black lights, no females.  

 

Temp is approaching mid-70Fs today, I'm hoping we may see a C. Myrmentoma flight potentially today.  They seem to fly a bit cooler than the bigger ones, though they will fly if warmer obviously.

 

Parasitic Lasius are all over the place looking for colonies as well. 

[ConcordAntman]

I saw this in today’s New York Times. Ignoring the sci-fi tropes, do captive colonies “promote” queens when theirs dies or does the colony fail?
https://www.nytimes....pgtype=Homepage

[Leo]

Really depends, It doesn't work with most species. But ones like diacamma or harpegnathos can "promote" a worker into a new queen/reproductive.

[ConcordAntman]

Went out at dusk last night looking for C. americanus, C. chromaiodes, or C. novaeboracensis and fired up my UV rig til about 9:30. No joy. I did find a grouping of C. pennsylvanicus claustral cells. Is it curious that these cells are grouped so closely? Or, are these separate entrances to one colony?



As to my hunt for Camponotus sp., when conditions warrant, I’ll keep at it (pray for some warm humid weather)!

[mallonje]

I'm no expert, but I think it's a claustral cell (at 9 o'clock) on top of a nest. The other holes look a little too uniform to me.

While the dirt mound for what I'm Calling a cell is lopsided.

[ConcordAntman]

With our mostly wet, cool spring, it seems that the flights are delayed. By this time last year there were at least two C. pennsylvanicus flights here. So far I haven’t seen anything.

[noebl1]

With our mostly wet, cool spring, it seems that the flights are delayed. By this time last year there were at least two C. pennsylvanicus flights here. So far I haven’t seen anything.

 

Sorry I'm more active on the Ant Keeping Discord than here   Camponotus nearcticus flew over the weekend. There has been some *small* C. pennsylvanicus flights, but nothing of any size/importance yet as too cold.  If it's around 80F or higher, especially if humid and low wind, that's the time to see Camponotus.  C. nearcticus will sometimes fly when mid to upper 70s as well.

[akaant]

I forgot to mention that on the 26th Camponotus  chromaiodes,  nearcticus, pennsylvanicus, and  americanus flew. I'm sure others flew since then but I didn't' see them. It was interesting to watch 40+ queens just suddenly rush onto the pavement at the same time and fly away in less than 5 min. This occurred just before 4:40 pm at 84-88F.

[noebl1]

I forgot to mention that on the 26th Camponotus  chromaiodes,  nearcticus, pennsylvanicus, and  americanus flew. I'm sure others flew since then but I didn't' see them. It was interesting to watch 40+ queens just suddenly rush onto the pavement at the same time and fly away in less than 5 min. This occurred just before 4:40 pm at 84-88F.

 

This has been another weird season, I've been seeing C. pennsylvanicus flying at 75F, usually that's a bit low for them. I haven't seen anything else this season yet besides C. pennsylvanicus and C. nearcticus so far.  However I don't normally see them peak until mid-Jun anyways, so still some time for them. I've been keeping an eye out on C. americanus, but nothing yet this season.  I either missed them (very possible), or small flights here this year (I typically only see them every couple of years.) 

[fmoreira60]

This year the only Camponotus I have caught are pennsylvanicus, chromaides, and nearcticus. The nearcticus and chromaides were on 5/26. The penns were on 5/27.

[noebl1]

We had a huge flight today of C. pennsylvanicus from 4:30pm to about 6:30pm.  Saw a handful of C. nearcticus, but were all massacred by dragonflies.