7 replies to this topic

[ahale]

Hi! Does anyone have advice on whether native ant species are active during December and January? I'm in a group of beginner macro photogaphers and we'd like to practice field photography of ants (just worker ants going about their business) in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts in SoCal.

 

Is anyone familiar with how active workers are during December and January? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

 

[KBant]

you should be able to find ants year round in mojave. 

[gcsnelling]

Depends on the weather, you are most likely to find Veromessor pergandei, if warm enough Pogonomyrmex may be active. A great many if not most of the desert species shut down for the winter.

Edited by gcsnelling, November 13 2017 - 3:43 PM.

[nurbs]

Depends on the weather, you are most likely to find Veromessor pergandei, if warm enough Pogonomyrmex may be active. A great many if not most of the desert species shut down for the winter.

 

Yep, V. pergandei for sure. Seen lots of them out while hiking in the Winter months. 

[dspdrew]

Haha nothing seems to make V. pergandei go in and close the door. I've seen them foraging in the low 40's, and in temps over 100. But yeah, other than them, usually when I go out there that time of the year, I can't find anything alive. It's like you're on the moon.

[Zegorzalek]

I live in the Mojave.... walking this morning checking out my usual nests... Pergandi are still moderately active, even in early morning when temps are down. Most of the Pogonomyrmex's are shut down, though a few of the big nests are lightly active when temps come up in the mid day. Saw some active Pogonomyrmex bi-color nests this morning, but would classify the activity as very light.

[dspdrew]

I live in the Mojave.... walking this morning checking out my usual nests... Pergandi are still moderately active, even in early morning when temps are down. Most of the Pogo's are shut down, though a few of the big nests are lightly active when temps come up in the mid day. Saw some active Pogo bi-color nests this morning, but would classify the activity as very light.

 

You should probably specify Pogonomyrmex californicus (bicolor) when talking about that variety, because there is a species called Pogonomyrmex bicolor.

[Zegorzalek]

Good to know! I was unaware there is a variety of that naming.