842 replies to this topic

[rcbuggy88]

How do you guys find Camponotus sp. queens? I've found workers just no queens. Do you guys break apart bark to expose founding queens? Also, where are some spots you can stay after dark? Most of the parks I've gone to close at sunset which is when Camponotus queens fly

[JenC]

Camponotus Species in the bay are basically done flying.

[rcbuggy88]

I assumed that since they seemed to fly a month earlier than normal but I found some alate pupae in a rotton log but that could just be extra idk. 

[sericultivist]

Hey guys, I moved away from the Bay Area so I haven't been very active in the ant community for a while. I'm visiting family in San Fran this week, and just wanted to let you know that Formica are flying right now. I have found three queens in my bedroom this morning, despite never seeing a single one in the 18 years I lived here.

[buglover123]

Interesting that Pogonomyrmex flights are this late, right before winter as opposed to a more fruitful season. I guess they just dig a chamber and hibernate a few months?

[Jadeninja9]

For any of you Bay Area anters still out here, Solenopsis flew today in San Mateo county.

[YsTheAnt]

Prenolepis imparis flew today here!

[Swirlysnowflake]

Prenolepis imparis flew today here!

Woah, cool

[JenC]

Yes many males and few queens

[Swirlysnowflake]

Huh, I didn’t see any

[JenC]

where did you look

[Swirlysnowflake]

where did you look

I looked around my house (there is a huge preno colony near me), at Central Park, and some other forest that I don’t know the name of. Didn’t see even a single male 

Maybe I looked in the wrong places lol

[BugFinder]

I would be glad to go anting with you in Cupertino!

 

Oh yeah, I'm checking tonight as well. There's a park in Cupertino that's apparently great for birdwatching. I hope to catch some queens, though knowing my lack of luck/skill, I won't find any

[BugFinder]

Where?  what city?

 

Prenolepis imparis flew today here!

[BugFinder]

 

where did you look

I looked around my house (there is a huge preno colony near me), at Central Park, and some other forest that I don’t know the name of. Didn’t see even a single male 

Maybe I looked in the wrong places lol

 

 

The colonies in different bay area regions or cities probably don't act at the same time because of differences in micro climates.

[YsTheAnt]

Yeah I've noticed that there are a lot of factors that go into catching queens. Two years ago the primary swarm of alates was right over a parking lot, so the queens were very easy to catch over the black pavement. I think I was able to catch a queen every minute or two. However, this year they swarmed in just as large numbers, but over ground with thick leaf cover, which made it extremely hard to find queens. They seem to want to swarm at a different spot every year.

[BugFinder]

I didn't see anyone flying, but I did see a lot of reproductives of Linepithema humile above the ground today in San Mateo.  The weather seemed perfect for a flight - cool but not cold, overcast, very humid.....     

[YsTheAnt]

Prenolepis imparis apparently flew again as well.

[BugFinder]

It looks like it's going to rain next week.  Would you guys be interested in meeting up in the south bay for a group ant hunt?

[YsTheAnt]

Sure! Hopefully it gets warm enough for something to fly, based off of last year we will need ~80f temperatures...