28 replies to this topic

[cpman]

In my city we also have the invasive Odontomachus haematodus that can be found pretty easily when looking at the base of trees in shaded areas. Trachymyrmex septentrionalis is very common, however seem to be most active in the spring while they are excavating and expanding their nests. I find Cyphomyrmex rimosus (invasive) to be commonly found nesting in shaded areas very close to Pheidole dentata colonies for whatever reason.

The only species in that list that I've ever heard of is Pheidole..

Cyphomyrmex rimosus isn't really invasive like S. invicta. It is introduced though.

It's a tiny fungus growing ant that grows yeast on caterpillar feces and bits of plants. It's pretty common in the warmer parts of the country (it may actually be the most common fungus grower where I am). They are pretty minute and unintrusive in my experience. They may be outcompeting native Cyphomyrmex wheeleri and other native attines, but I'm not sure.

Trachymyrmex is another fungus grower. They're larger and mostly use plants. They don't cut leaves, but are very closely related to the leafcutters.

Odontomachus is a large "trap-jawed" ant. There are a couple species in the US. I know there are supposedly native ones around where I am (I haven't seen them though -- they seem to be less common than Leptogenys and Pachycondyla or are less tolerant of disturbances).

I've never seen Cyphomyrmex before, but they sound a lot like Leafcutters. Trap-jaws live in Texas but I've never seen them as well.

Cyphomyrmex are pretty different from the leafcutters. They are very small (the workers are like 2mm, and the queens are like 3mm), live in tiny colonies (a few hundred), rarely have big, orderly columns, and are monomorphic. They are very easy to overlook. You've almost certainly got them where you are, considering how close you are to Houston and the gulf.

[ultraex2]

My wooded backyard is filled with Aphaenogaster - otherwise it's Tetramorium everywhere else with a few Camponotus if there's wood or Formica in yards.

 

Oh, and there are at least 30+ winter ant colonies... but they aren't active during summer.

Edited by ultraex2, June 28 2017 - 12:20 PM.

[Ants_Texas]

 

 

 

 

In my city we also have the invasive Odontomachus haematodus that can be found pretty easily when looking at the base of trees in shaded areas. Trachymyrmex septentrionalis is very common, however seem to be most active in the spring while they are excavating and expanding their nests. I find Cyphomyrmex rimosus (invasive) to be commonly found nesting in shaded areas very close to Pheidole dentata colonies for whatever reason.

The only species in that list that I've ever heard of is Pheidole..

Cyphomyrmex rimosus isn't really invasive like S. invicta. It is introduced though.

It's a tiny fungus growing ant that grows yeast on caterpillar feces and bits of plants. It's pretty common in the warmer parts of the country (it may actually be the most common fungus grower where I am). They are pretty minute and unintrusive in my experience. They may be outcompeting native Cyphomyrmex wheeleri and other native attines, but I'm not sure.

Trachymyrmex is another fungus grower. They're larger and mostly use plants. They don't cut leaves, but are very closely related to the leafcutters.

Odontomachus is a large "trap-jawed" ant. There are a couple species in the US. I know there are supposedly native ones around where I am (I haven't seen them though -- they seem to be less common than Leptogenys and Pachycondyla or are less tolerant of disturbances).

I've never seen Cyphomyrmex before, but they sound a lot like Leafcutters. Trap-jaws live in Texas but I've never seen them as well.

Cyphomyrmex are pretty different from the leafcutters. They are very small (the workers are like 2mm, and the queens are like 3mm), live in tiny colonies (a few hundred), rarely have big, orderly columns, and are monomorphic. They are very easy to overlook. You've almost certainly got them where you are, considering how close you are to Houston and the gulf.

 

Sounds like fun. Do you know when and where they fly?

[123LordOfAnts123]

In Central FL, they fly in May and June along with the first heavy rains of the year during humid mornings. Queens, which are attracted to lights, can be found foraging and founding where colonies already exist. This is normally disturbed habitat in sandy soil, often with vegetation and tree cover present.

Here's a two queen colony I had awhile back.

Edited by 123LordOfAnts123, June 28 2017 - 12:34 PM.

[Ants_Texas]

In Central FL, they fly in May and June along with the first heavy rains of the year during humid mornings.

Here's a two queen colony I had awhile back.

Cool colny. I live in Texas, so I have no idea where they fly.

[Aaron567]

In Central FL, they fly in May and June along with the first heavy rains of the year during humid mornings. Queens, which are attracted to lights, can be found foraging and founding where colonies already exist. This is normally disturbed habitat in sandy soil, often with vegetation and tree cover present.

Here's a two queen colony I had awhile back.

 

Did you raise this colony from queens or did you dig them up? If you raised them from queens then I would be curious on how you did it.

[123LordOfAnts123]

In Central FL, they fly in May and June along with the first heavy rains of the year during humid mornings. Queens, which are attracted to lights, can be found foraging and founding where colonies already exist. This is normally disturbed habitat in sandy soil, often with vegetation and tree cover present.
Here's a two queen colony I had awhile back.

 
Did you raise this colony from queens or did you dig them up? If you raised them from queens then I would be curious on how you did it.

The queens were captured foraging. As they had likely already deposited their innoculum elsewhere, they were given fresh silkworm frass and a few nodules of fungal yeast from a wild colony. They reared their first brood and cared for the garden by foraging as usual for any semi-claustral attine.

After 6 months the colony numbered over a couple hundred and had produced several males, but they had an annoying habit of plastering spent caterpillar frass over any glass, rendering viewing almost impossible.

[AntswerMe]

In my city we also have the invasive Odontomachus haematodus that can be found pretty easily when looking at the base of trees in shaded areas. Trachymyrmex septentrionalis is very common, however seem to be most active in the spring while they are excavating and expanding their nests. I find Cyphomyrmex rimosus (invasive) to be commonly found nesting in shaded areas very close to Pheidole dentata colonies for whatever reason.

The only species in that list that I've ever heard of is Pheidole..

Cyphomyrmex rimosus isn't really invasive like S. invicta. It is introduced though.

It's a tiny fungus growing ant that grows yeast on caterpillar feces and bits of plants. It's pretty common in the warmer parts of the country (it may actually be the most common fungus grower where I am). They are pretty minute and unintrusive in my experience. They may be outcompeting native Cyphomyrmex wheeleri and other native attines, but I'm not sure.

Trachymyrmex is another fungus grower. They're larger and mostly use plants. They don't cut leaves, but are very closely related to the leafcutters.

Odontomachus is a large "trap-jawed" ant. There are a couple species in the US. I know there are supposedly native ones around where I am (I haven't seen them though -- they seem to be less common than Leptogenys and Pachycondyla or are less tolerant of disturbances).

Actually about Trachymyrmex, they do cut leaves. I see them all the time carrying bits of leaves, caterpillar frass pellets, flower pieces, etc. back to their nest.

[cpman]

In my city we also have the invasive Odontomachus haematodus that can be found pretty easily when looking at the base of trees in shaded areas. Trachymyrmex septentrionalis is very common, however seem to be most active in the spring while they are excavating and expanding their nests. I find Cyphomyrmex rimosus (invasive) to be commonly found nesting in shaded areas very close to Pheidole dentata colonies for whatever reason.

The only species in that list that I've ever heard of is Pheidole..

Cyphomyrmex rimosus isn't really invasive like S. invicta. It is introduced though.

It's a tiny fungus growing ant that grows yeast on caterpillar feces and bits of plants. It's pretty common in the warmer parts of the country (it may actually be the most common fungus grower where I am). They are pretty minute and unintrusive in my experience. They may be outcompeting native Cyphomyrmex wheeleri and other native attines, but I'm not sure.

Trachymyrmex is another fungus grower. They're larger and mostly use plants. They don't cut leaves, but are very closely related to the leafcutters.

Odontomachus is a large "trap-jawed" ant. There are a couple species in the US. I know there are supposedly native ones around where I am (I haven't seen them though -- they seem to be less common than Leptogenys and Pachycondyla or are less tolerant of disturbances).

Actually about Trachymyrmex, they do cut leaves. I see them all the time carrying bits of leaves, caterpillar frass pellets, flower pieces, etc. back to their nest.

They are usually nowhere as enthusiastic about it as actual leafcutters are, from what I've seen. Around here at least, they seem to like oak catkins and frass a lot.