20 replies to this topic

[William. T]

So far, at least in the 2012-2014 anting seasons, I have not caught any queen ants. It's like they avoid me like the plague. I had caught three queens, but they had all died before laying any eggs.   It sucks to be the noob that has a lot of supplies - test tubes, fly culture media, all organic cotton, barbecue skewers, tweezes, bleach, cricket keepers, cricket feed, a extra large bag of sugar, and plans to buy THA formicaries, read numerous  posts here and on ant Farm Yuku, the Antscanada ant guide, when you can't even obtain a colony!   I have spent 70% of my free time with eyes peeled on sidewalks and have flipped over at least 6,000 logs and stones. I just wish there was a GAN farmer in MD.

 

 

So guys, any tips for next anting season? Or is there an ant keeper in my area with spare colonies? Thanks and wish me luck!

[Gregory2455]

MD?

[Mads]

I am assuming MD is Maryland.

Mads

[DesertAntz]

Probably Maryland. If not that, then who knows. 

 

 

If you have already looked on Antscanada's site and didn't see a listed GAN farmer in your area you'll probably just have to look on your own. I'm unaware of any other source for GAN farmers. If you are indeed in Maryland, stay vigilant when the weather starts to warm up and you guys get some rain. Ants, at least in Arizona, usually use rain as a queue to start mating flights. They'll fly at 'random' times of course, but if you keep looking I'm sure you'll get a queen. 

[Crystals]

I am sure you stumbled upon our Ant Flight Chart that is pinned in the Anting section.  Look on antweb.org to find your local species, and then at the chart to see which months are most likely.

Some months I find I can't go 20 feet without tripping over a queen, other times I can go 2 months without a sign of one.

I was lucky and got into ants about a month before they started flying, so they didn't have to wait long.  I practically live outside in summer, so I stumbled across some of the largest flights quite easily.

 

Best of luck!

[Gregory2455]

Antweb does not have Maryland.

[Crystals]

Maryland is right beneath Pennsylvania.  Many of the ants found there are likely found in Maryland, especially the common ones.

It at least gives a starting point.

 

http://www.antweb.or...nts&images=true

http://www.formicult...t-mating-chart/

 

I know when I first started collecting ants, the ones I was used to seeing were huge Camponotus queens.  It took me some time to get used to looking for queens that were smaller than a grain of rice.  I usually only spot them on my driveway, when I am working in the garden, or when I intentionally turn over rocks and objects.

 

I doubt he will find any queens at this time, but you never know.  I expect he will start finding queens about a month or so after drew (or any in California) starts seeing flights.

[William. T]

Thanks for the help, everyone. Now I am cooped up at home because of the weather. It just gets colder and colder. People think MD, which is Maryland, is  down South, but really, heavy snowfalls in March and even April are not unheard of. I just wish that it was a bit warmer, like in California. Argentine ants are better than nothing!

[LAnt]

So you know of our plague. The argies are sleepin and only show up inside the house right now.

[William. T]

Still, "argies" have colonies with many queens! What I would give for a colony of Argies! Or even RIFA!

Edited by Pheidole, January 3 2015 - 7:19 PM.

[BugFinder]

Just don't give up Pheidole.  We're all supporting you in spirit!

[William. T]

Thanks!

[James H]

Hello all, sorry to resurrect an old post, but I find myself in the same situation as the original poster.  I bought an omni nest kit from Ants Canada earlier this month as a birthday present for my son after their website showed that there was a GAN farmer in Stephensville, MD.  Now the Ants Canada website no longer has a listing for any GAN farmers in Maryland, which is a problem as my ant enthusiast son is now very disappointed.  He has been looking in the backyard and along the sidewalks in the neighborhood for a tetramorium queen with no luck.  I really appreciate any help with this.  Thanks!

[dspdrew]

I wouldn't be too worried; the ant season has just begun. You will probably be able to find a queen if you take some of the advice from people on the forum. Also a GAN seller might show up later too. Most are pretty sold out by this time, but they should all (North American) be getting fresh supplies very soon.

[AntBoi3030]

Sad this thread is dead I have a some pheidole queens that I could hook him up with

[Manitobant]

Why did you revive this? This is 5 years old and nobody will see it. Chances are this dude quit the hobby long ago.

Edited by Manitobant, July 7 2021 - 2:08 PM.

[AntBoi3030]

Apologies

[Manitobant]

Sorry if i sounded harsh btw. I just see no point if nobody is gonna see it.

[AntBoi3030]

Not really a point lol. It was an impulse

[anti_que8]

Sad this thread is dead I have a some pheidole queens that I could hook him up with

I’m new to this. They still available?