31 replies to this topic

[Gregory2455]

I am after this species, and there doesn't happen to be an abundance of information of them of what they are like in California.

I know they usually fly in January.

 

What are the factors they need to fly?

 

What may be some good locations to find alates after a flight here in California?

Edited by Gregory2455, October 29 2014 - 4:31 PM.

[AntsAreUs]

Right when snow starts to melt usually is when they fly, I'm going to try to catch them next year.

[AntsAreUs]

What may be some good locations to find alates after a flight here in California?

 

For you it will probably be up in the mountains I would guess. Try to take a shovel and look for claustral chambers and dig them up or if you find the flight or you could find dealates walking around.

[Gregory2455]

Never been mountain anting, probably should've gotten practice when the Lasius flew.

[dspdrew]

Any info I could give you can already be found on my Google map.

[dean_k]

I read that they sort of hibernate during summer. They don't exactly hibernate. They just stay low.

[James C. Trager]

Note: You mean Prenolepis - only one 's', at the end.

 

They fly January-February in the Sunbelt, and as late as May in the northern parts of their range. 
Colonies of this ant become inactive on the surface during hot weather, though they may remain active at night, or come out on cloudy, cooler days. They're busy inside the nest, though, raising brood by feeding them food stored in the bodies of the the first year workers that were fattened up during fall and spring.

[Gregory2455]

Note: You mean Prenolepis - only one 's', at the end.

Oops, sorry, fixed.

 

Thanks for the information, that is basically all that I know about them right now.

[AntsAreUs]

Oops, sorry, fixed.

 

Thanks for the information, that is basically all that I know about them right now.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/27323 Hope this help! 

[dean_k]

Note: You mean Prenolepis - only one 's', at the end.

 

They fly January-February in the Sunbelt, and as late as May in the northern parts of their range. 
Colonies of this ant become inactive on the surface during hot weather, though they may remain active at night, or come out on cloudy, cooler days. They're busy inside the nest, though, raising brood by feeding them food stored in the bodies of the the first year workers that were fattened up during fall and spring.

 

Yeah, they are probably the only sp that won't need months of hibernation in Canada which is why I want them. And to watch their big bellies.

[Mercutia]

I didn't know that. Maybe I'll pull them out of hibernation to play with. 8D

[Gregory2455]

My current idea is to monitor the weather around where I want to go, and the first day of the new year when the temperature goes over ~70 degrees Fahrenheit, I would go. Also, does this species like to fly in the morning, afternoon, or at night?

 

Are there any ideas to improve my current plan?

[dspdrew]

They flew sometime before the afternoon at O'neill Park.

[drtrmiller]

Okay legitimate question, if not slightly off-topic. Does this species pronunciation rhyme somewhat (in syllables and last word) with "American in Paris?"

 

I bet Gershwin would have loved this ant :~)

Edited by drtrmiller, October 29 2014 - 10:16 PM.

[Gregory2455]

That's how I say it...

[Gregory2455]

I saw large trails of Prenolepis imparis workers at a local trail. I am surprised to find these in such a... dry place. I wonder when they will fly.

[dspdrew]

O'neill Park is very dry and i find tons of them all over that place.

[Alza]

i found 4mm ants that were black with huge gasters near a  messor andrei colony. It was on a trail. and oneil park is a crazy place...

[Gregory2455]

I suspected the ones I saw were Prenolepis imparis, then I saw repletes crossing which confirmed it. (For anyone who does not know, Prenolepis imparis have some sort of like pseudo-replete.)

[DesertAntz]

 Prenolepis imparis have some sort of like pseudo-replete.)

A replete that doesn't have the singular task of being a food reservoir?