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[dspdrew]

Location:  Just outside of Caspers Regional Park, Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, California.
Habitat:  Along side a dirt road in an oak forest.
Coloration, hue and pattern:  Dark red head and thorax, darker red mandibles, dark orange legs and gaster.
Length:  Ranging 4mm - 6mm.

I was walking along this road after dark, and I thought there was some sort of animal up on the side of the cliff about seven feet up knocking dirt and rocks down, when I noticed it was actually a massive swarm of ants. I then noticed about six 2-inch wide trails of these ants going from a lower nest, up to the nest seven feet up. They were carrying tons of brood, alates, and even some dealates back to the nest down near the ground. I could only assume these were Neivamyrmex army ants--the second time I have come across them now. Also, the nest that they were raiding was Pheidole vistana (my favorite species of Pheidole). I guess this also means that Pheidole vistana hasn't flown yet, or at least isn't finished for the season.

[dspdrew]

Most likely Neivamyrmex nigrescens according to Mrmacophyl.

 

Dr. James Trager: "They raid a wide variety of other ants, in various subfamilies, but I've mostly observed them getting Camponotus, Lasius, Aphaenogaster, and Pheidole."