63 replies to this topic

[Ants_Texas]

 

I caught five strange queens with translucent yellow gasters, and their thorax/head is a dark red that almost looks like the color of Pogonomyrmex barbatus. I also caught 13 Pheidole sp., and about 10 unidentified harvester ant queens. Ants Galore, it's the species you have. No sightings of Crematogaster in Katy so far. If anybody wants a free Pheidole queen, I'd be willing to give out alot. My pool light usually attracts about 40 a night.

You should post some photos in an ID bread of your strange queens. Do you have anything to go on other than coloration? How big are they? Do they have a postpetiole?

 

I can try to ID but my camera is terrible at focusing up close. I can tell the queen is fully claustral, and I'm going to wait until she has workers before I ID her. Trust me, if I tried to take a focused picture it would be like 360p.

[Ants Galore]

 Naaa, its k. I already got ID. BTW Spamdy I couldn't go to the park. Might as well give the golf course a try since I was gonna go there anyway

 WAIIIT. Can you tell me the pool address?

[Ants Galore]

I caught a Crematogaster in Katy! Wow in shock!

[Ants_Texas]

Myrmecocystus and Pogonomyrmex have been spotted in Midland/Lubbock.

[Spamdy]

After this cold front get ready for some nuptial flights as temperatures are going to skyrocket into the 80's as soon as the rain ends. Good Luck Everyone!

[Ants_Texas]

It sounds too good to be true! What should we be looking for though..?

[kellakk]

I don't know that anything will fly beyond fire ants.  Maybe Camponotus, but it's hard to say.  It's also possible that Prenolepis imparis  will fly, but I don't know where these are found in Texas. Maybe eastern Texas in the pine forests?

 

I'll likely be in west Texas this weekend, so I'm hoping to find some Veromessor that have flown.

Edited by kellakk, February 12 2018 - 4:35 PM.

[Spamdy]

Pheidole moerens is probably going to fly, I saw some alates underneath some rocks the other day. I was also going to say Prenolepis imparis, I don't know any nests though there have been findings in south Houston. Last year Dorymyrmex sp. flew in similar conditions but I don't know. 

 

Will report anything I find this week.

 

EDIT: Also for everyone in the Houston area Wednesday will be prime time for anting. After a day and a half of thunderstorms the temperature will blow up from 52 degrees to 72 degrees, that is for night flyers. Morning flyers such as Pheidole will fly in the morning. So look out for them early Thursday. Good Luck everyone.

Edited by Spamdy, February 12 2018 - 5:14 PM.

[Ants_Texas]

Pheidole moerens is probably going to fly, I saw some alates underneath some rocks the other day. I was also going to say Prenolepis imparis, I don't know any nests though there have been findings in south Houston. Last year Dorymyrmex sp. flew in similar conditions but I don't know. 

 

Will report anything I find this week.

Me too, I'll be looking in the pool.

[Spamdy]

Pheidole moerens flying tonight or next morning confirmed. This will probably apply for all Houstonians and neighboring cities. Flipped some rocks over and found them preparing. Good luck everyone!

[kellakk]

Pheidole moerens flying tonight or next morning confirmed. This will probably apply for all Houstonians and neighboring cities. Flipped some rocks over and found them preparing. Good luck everyone!

 

 

Interesting. I've only seen Pheidole dentata in College Station, but I think I'll be out collecting tomorrow night just to see if they're around.  Good luck!

[Spamdy]

Looks like nothing but Solenopsis invicta flew these past week, may just be too early for others.

[Toddsnake]

Newbie in Dallas ready for some queen hunting!  Received my order from Lake Charles Manufacturing today!

25 ea. 20mm x150mm Test Tubes. (Hopefully for larger queen ants like Camponotus I'm wishing for!)

25ea. 16mm x 150mm Test Tubes.

Hope to start my first ever formicarium with some type of Carpenter Ant.  If I don't catch one I hope I can catch a queen

that someone in Texas might want to trade for a Camponotus....

I'm sure there will be no shortage of RIFA in my area!

Let me know if anyone sees any queen activity in the Dallas/Fort Worth area......

Thanks

Todd

[nurbs]

Great to see this thread from my hometown. Following!

[Spamdy]

Ponera flew last night and might fly again. I've caught 2 while AntsTexas has caught one. I have already released all mine. 

[Ants_Texas]

I'm going to attempt to raise one Ponera queen. All others found will be released. 

[Toddsnake]

Out Anting today in Dallas.  At a park area with a creek and walking paths I caught 3 winged ants and 2 the same size with no wings on the walking path.. They are 6mm to 8mm long.  I bought a USB microscope off Amazon and will try my luck taking pics with it tomorrow.  Temperature in the mid 70s today.  Disturbed a few Fire Ant mounds,,,,wings running everywhere!

 

Todd

[JohnTX]

I had some luck today in Dallas as well.  Out walking the dog and found this.  Unfortunately I think it is a Solenopsis invicta which I really don't want to keep.  Still, first queen of the season is exciting.

 

[Superant33]

For the love of god, don’t release all your Ponera!! Ship to San Antonio?

[Guardian]

Anyone have any luck finding Queens this weekend?