14 replies to this topic

[Tmhernandez77]

So, I am brand new to formiculture and anting in general.  From the research I have done, my current understanding is this:

 

Certain species tend to fly at certain times of year, with the majority flying between May and August.  

 

The conditions most conducive to finding queens are:

1.  Recent rain (last few days)

2.  Warm weather (75F+)

3.  nuptial flights tend to be in the early morning or late evening

4.  Some species of queens can be found near bright lights at night.

5.  The best time to find queens if right after a nuptial flight, either on the ground or in a founding chamber.

6.  Queens with no wings are more likely to be fertile than those with (but with wings can still have mated already).

7.  Not all big ants are queens, some are either male alates or major workers

8.  Founding chambers tend to look like mini anthills, with freshly dug loose soil in a small mound around a central tunnel or hole.

 

Other than that, I don't really know what I am looking for.  Do queens tend to dig founding chambers in loose soil, moist soil, shade, etc?  Should I be overturning rocks and logs?  I've gone on several hunts, and I have managed to find only one queen which sadly died.  I would really like to get out there and find queens, but I think I am looking in the wrong spots or the wrong time of day.  Any guidance would be amazing.  For the record, I live in Southern California, between the Santa Monica Mountains and Los Padres Forrest.  Thanks a ton for any help you can provide.

[ultraex2]

Unless you get semi-lucky and walk into the middle of a nuptial flight, it will be a lot of hunting over and over until you eventually find some wandering around.  Really the best advice is just keep looking in places where you know there are ants and keep checking it as often as you can until you find some - eventually you will get lucky.  I went camping this weekend and searched around for probably around 5 hours total and didn't find any queens except for a couple of parasitic lasius, but then my dad sitting by the campfire caught a huge camponotus pennsylvanicus queen just walking right by.  

[Canadian anter]

When hunting queens, the best sign is a queen.

[Roachant]

Swimming pools or other bodies of water are great places to get a large number of queens as they get trapped on the surface of the water.

[Phoenix]

Uncertain about it, but banks especially with loads of illumination tend to be the ideal location in obtaining Queen Ants.

[Tmhernandez77]

Swimming pools or other bodies of water are great places to get a large number of queens as they get trapped on the surface of the water.

Do these queens survive once trapped in the pool, or will they die fairly quickly?  There is a pool at my complex that I can check every evening.

[sgheaton]

I found queens in my cats water dish that's outside. Just like most insects, they kinda....flop/chill/slowly drown on the surface. 

 

And I found Pogonomyrmex Rugosus having a nuptial flight on a light pole at the library last year. 

While I'm sure queens were always around, it wasn't until I knew what I was after did I start noticing queens all. over. the place. The simple fact that you're attempting to find one is already a step in the right direction if you ask me. 

[Spamdy]

If I were you I would go to the Forrest. Go and find dead logs pry them open and you might find a queen. Obviously you will only find wood dwelling ants. I went into the woods near a small lake and found 2 Camponotus Pennsylvanicus queen in my first log. Good luck!

[Nathant2131]

http://www.formicult...tch-queen-ants/

[Roachant]

Swimming pools or other bodies of water are great places to get a large number of queens as they get trapped on the surface of the water.

Do these queens survive once trapped in the pool, or will they die fairly quickly?  There is a pool at my complex that I can check every evening.

They can and do eventually drown but usually it takes a while. Keep an eye out for mating flights and check the pool often, usually in evenings or early mornings. You will often see males still attached to the queens and will find males in the pool as well. It's a great way to see some male ants which are rather rare to see.
A good way to tell if there is a mating flight is to watch the skies for birds, in particular seagulls and you will see them in a large gathering flying overhead and snapping at the air. Usually it's a swarm of insects and usually it's an ant mating flight. Take note on where you saw the seagulls in the air and check around that area.

[Works4TheGood]

Uncertain about it, but banks especially with loads of illumination tend to be the ideal location in obtaining Queen Ants.

You might want to obtain permission from the owner first before attempting this!

[Works4TheGood]

Swimming pools or other bodies of water are great places to get a large number of queens as they get trapped on the surface of the water.

Do these queens survive once trapped in the pool, or will they die fairly quickly?  There is a pool at my complex that I can check every evening.

My most rigorously growing colonies were captured while drowning in our baby pool. Some of them appeared to be completely dead; they had long since given up the struggle to escape. But after I had them on my hand for a few seconds, I noticed slight movement. Now, they send out hundreds of workers to attack me whenever I bump their nest (it's annoying). ... They're doing quite well now ... too well.

[Phoenix]

 

Uncertain about it, but banks especially with loads of illumination tend to be the ideal location in obtaining Queen Ants.

You might want to obtain permission from the owner first before attempting this!

 

Usually, obtaining the security's permission alone should be enough.

[Tmhernandez77]

Thanks for all the replies, I think this will be helpful in my search for my first queens.

[fortysixandtwo]

At least here in California with Camponotus, if you spot a new queen running around, chances are if you spend some time looking you will find lots more.