842 replies to this topic

[Antking123]

Honestly a black light isn't needed a good strategy is to go a shop or building at night where there are lights and windows. Usually fertile females will swarm on the windows being attracted to the light. I've caught well over a hundred fertile solenopsis queens and linepithema humile queens. Ones that have chewed off their wings will usually fall off the windows after.   

[Pren-imp]

Hey all, I have read through most of the post. I have been wanting to start an ant colony of either Prenolepis imparis "false honey pot ants" or any of the Myrmecocytsus "honeypot ants" in California.

I know Prenolepis imparis are winter ants and are too late to find but do think Myrmecocytsus are still flying this late.

I live in Concord and would also love to buy a queen if anyone have some sell.

Email at danj.signup@gmail.com.

[Jorgebengal]

Hey everyone, I am looking to chat with a formicarium expert in the Bay Area if anyone is willing. I'm conceptualizing building a large formicarium for a sizeable colony and I want to make sure I'm creating a hospitable habitat and matching the right species with the substrate I have in mind. 

 

If you are a knowledgeable person willing to chat for a few minutes Id be sincerely grateful for your time!

[miksha]

Honestly a black light isn't needed a good strategy is to go a shop or building at night where there are lights and windows. Usually fertile females will swarm on the windows being attracted to the light. I've caught well over a hundred fertile solenopsis queens and linepithema humile queens. Ones that have chewed off their wings will usually fall off the windows after.   

Interesting, but it's hard to find a building near native and habitat. The only ant I ever see near human development are the darned argentine ants

[BrianK]

If anyone is going anting and wants to teach a noob let me know

[EthanNgo678]

i more of a noob myself so i would like to come

[Antking123]

Anybody find any solenopsis xyloni cause they are flying right now. Veromessor probably already flew. 

[YsTheAnt]

Anybody find any solenopsis xyloni cause they are flying right now. Veromessor probably already flew.

Veromessor actually haven't flown yet. When they do fly it will be MASSIVE...

[Antking123]

I saw some people posted photos on inaturalist of veromessor alates at a mound about a week ago.

[YsTheAnt]

I saw some people posted photos on inaturalist of veromessor alates at a mound about a week ago.

Lots of my friends have seen them, but they have not flown yet in the Bay Area. Alates are still at nest entrances, and haven't had good flights. There were tiny preflights, but they were only 1-2 queens.

[miksha]

So I was down at fremont old space preserve, I ran into a ranger. He was nice, but he said it is illegal to catch ants there and another ranger could give me a ticket. I find anything anyway (nice hike though!). My question is how anyone is supposed to catch ant queens at all around here? Everywhere is either a preserve/park, or it's someone's private property. Of course I think it's kind of ridiculous how something like this is illegal especially when there are so many legal crimes going on in the world. Has anyone else had a similar encounter?

Edited by miksha, July 9 2018 - 8:28 PM.

[YsTheAnt]

I tend to look at areas that have less ranger patrols, and usually have some ant related stuff on my phone that I can pull up right away. If anyone asks, I just tell them exactly what I'm doing, and if they press for more I show them some webpages/pictures of my ants.

Fremont older doesn't have much from what I have seen. I have explored it quite a bit as I live nearby, but can never seem to find much there.

I would check some local, smaller parks. I have caught 100's of queens at a park right across the street. If it's surrounded by forest (oak seems to be best), and relatively undisturbed (i.e) not completely grass and concrete, it probably has some nice diversity. This park is local, and has so much diversity that within a 300 sq feet area, there are 5 species of Camponotus, hundreds of P. imparis nests, a handful of Formica colonies, Tetramorium (pretty much everywhere in my area, but a species nonetheless), Solenopsis molesta, and more.

I would really recommend checking out some smaller parks near you, that aren't preserves or county parks. They are much easier to ant in.

[Antking123]

I've gone almost everywhere in the bay area and its a desert. Where is there forest in the bay area? The closest thing I've gotten to an oak/forest area is Picchetti which is still out in the open and dead. 

 

At my yard in Canada there are millions of camponotus and formica queens running around in July. Even in Southern California you could walk outside and have a huge chance at finding something, but in the Bay Area finding something is nearly impossible with the lack of water, rain, and vegetation. Especially, when stupid solenopsis and argentine ants have wiped out a few  camponotus species and retreated hundreds of other local species.

Edited by Antking123, July 10 2018 - 1:59 PM.

[YsTheAnt]

I've gone almost everywhere in the bay area and its a desert. Where is there forest in the bay area? The closest thing I've gotten to an oak/forest area is Picchetti which is still out in the open and dead.

At my yard in Canada there are millions of camponotus and formica queens running around in July. Even in Southern California you could walk outside and have a huge chance at finding something, but in the Bay Area finding something is nearly impossible with the lack of water, rain, and vegetation. Especially, when stupid solenopsis and argentine ants have wiped out a few camponotus species and retreated hundreds of other local species.

Anywhere with undisturbed oak Forest will have something. You have to look at night, Bay area Camponotus are completely nocturnal. Santa Teresa Park has a good variety of Camponotus. Go to any relatively undisturbed oak Forest area at night and look on the trees, you are bound to find something.

[Antking123]

Does anyone know if camponotus laevigatus hibernate in Northern California cause I bought a colony from a guy in Sonora and for about four months the brood pile hasn't grown at all. The brood pile is large and the ants are active, being fed a lot, but the brood haven't changed. 

[YsTheAnt]

C. laevigatus needs hibernation. If their brood isn't developing, hibernate them for 3 months.

[sirjordanncurtis]

Did any of you get rain last night?

[YsTheAnt]

Nope

[BrianK]

Nope, I was hoping for it too. Slight chance tonight but it's going to be cooler tomorrow...

[sirjordanncurtis]

There was some rain near St. Francis High School last night. It was pretty small though, so I wasn't sure if any of you had that as well.

 

Nope, I was hoping for it too. Slight chance tonight but it's going to be cooler tomorrow...