460 replies to this topic

[rbarreto]

I know that Formica obscuripes is polymorphic.

Edited by rbarreto, May 16 2018 - 7:42 AM.

[rbarreto]

I keep reading that people go out looking for Camponotus around 7 PM when its becoming dark outside, but here in Ontario its still light at that time. Should I be going out at 7 or at dusk?

[Canadian anter]

I keep reading that people go out looking for Camponotus around 7 PM when its becoming dark outside, but here in Ontario its still light at that time. Should I be going out at 7 or at dusk?

I only start seeing them at around 9 and peak at 1030

[Lazarus]

I was in Montreal Friday and Saturday and took a few walks there without any luck. With the overnight rains I was hoping that it would be a good day finding queens here in Ottawa but all we saw were foragers. My son says it's still too cold for queens in Ottawa but I was hoping for P. Imparis.

I should be in the NY Finger Lakes area next weekend (my other hobby flying rockets) and will do some scouting there.

 

PS: I've added a link in my signature to a Google spreadsheet where I keep track of our colonies. It's getting to the point where we are having a hard time counting (which is a good thing ). 3 of our 4 C. Novae colonies have at least doubled in size since hibernation. A few of the menials are huge compared to the smaller workers. Hoping to get a good pic showing the size difference.

Edited by Lazarus, May 20 2018 - 2:54 PM.

[Canadian anter]

Camponotus looks like it'll fly very soon. Most likely on Friday or Saturday

[rbarreto]

Here in ottawa its supposed to reach 28°C on Friday, hopefully that finally triggers some flights. Although I'm not sure if they would fly before a storm (huge rainstorm forecast on sat).

[Canadian anter]

I have caught Solenopsis and Temnothorax flying directly during a storm.

[Kojeware]

so, I recently found a few Lasius neoniger workers, as well as a queen of either L. claviger, or L. Umbratus. I put them in the fridge for a while, then introduced them. As of right now, they appear to be grooming each other. Could this possibly workout, or is it doomed to fail?

[Canadian anter]

Could possibly work out. However, it seems that trophallaxis is what really seals the deal.

[Penguin]

Both Camponotus pennsylvanicus and Camponotus cf. novaeboracensis flew today and I saw 3 of both species' queens but only managed to catch 2 C. novaeboracensis as all the C. pennsylvanicus flew away and one C. novaeboracensis got into the grass and I lost it.

[rbarreto]

Wait I thought they flew later in the day?

[Penguin]

I believe they can fly from late afternoon-late night/early morning

[rbarreto]

*Runs outside*

[Canadian anter]

They can, just smaller flights I believe

[rbarreto]

They are flying in Ottawa as well.

[Penguin]

I saw what I believe to be a C. novaeboracensis queen (I didn't get a good look at it) and I wasn't going to capture it, but then some kid stepped on it 

 

EDIT: I have these small plant pots that are easy to lift, so I was checking under them (as others have said this method helped them find queens) and I happen upon a winged Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen, apart from any colony at all so I think "hey I haven't got any of these" so I try to scoop it up and, to code with all C. pennsylvanicus queens I have found, she flew off.... 

Edited by Penguin, May 28 2018 - 2:42 PM.

[Lazarus]

Just found a C. novaeboracensis queen! But this is a mixed bag for me. Thrilling because it is another queen and the first I found myself (last year my son caught them all) but since we have 4 C. novaeboracensis already I was hoping for a new species.

 

Also, we also got around to hooking up the ants Canada formicarium to our largest colony last night and most have moved in along with the brood. Hope the queen moves in soon with the remaining stragglers.

[Penguin]

Is it ant war day? I just saw 3 large Tetramorium sidewalk ant wars.

 

Tetramorium colonies today be like:    

[Canadian anter]

Forgot to mention. Lasius interjectus should fly pretty soon.

 

Temnothorax males have also been spotted.

Edited by Canadian anter, June 7 2018 - 3:35 PM.

[rbarreto]

In kingston visiting my family when I decided to take the dog out for a midnight walk through the woods. I didn't think I was going to find anything but on the way back home I managed to find a C. pennsylvanicus queen in a spider web