Post by UKantz on Apr 10, 2012 7:32:17 GMT
It was in Jersey on the 5th of August where I saw the largest, most diverse nuptial flight I had ever seen
On day 3 of my holiday, I read in the paper that there was a mass nuptial flight in the uk I was gutted to have missed it. However my grief was short lived when later that day all the Lasius niger nests around my area were teaming with alates. I had to rush down to the nearest store to get a container of some sort and came back with some little tubs. I managed to catch 3 Lasius queens and saved the rest...
Later at 4-5pm on the same day I was walking back up from the beach, when I found a lone mymicia rubra queen with only 1 wing. I tried to catch her but she went Down a crack in the stairs, I was kicking myself
sadly this one got away...
Now I can't remember what day of my holiday it was but it was near the end, I was walking my dogs along a sandy bank with a beach over view. Wearing flip flops I was unaware what was going to happen next, until I felt a sharp pain on my foot and to my surprise it was a Formica rufa worker. I had trod on a whole nest of these ladies and was now paying the price. However on my way back I was shocked to find a queen she was a biggen to around 13-15mm long with the exact colouring of a worker just much bigger. I quickly gathered her up, but never made the journey as she kept spraying acid everywhere
On second to last day I was at the pub, pretty typical me but after having a few pints I decided to go on a long beach walk. This beach was very quiet and on holiday I visited it often, but I know why as there where 125 (yes I counted) sets up. As I made my way up after my little strole I came across a mystery nest with a few alates left, and eventually found a mated queen. She even made the journey back but never laid eggs? which was disappointing as the ants were very cool ;D they looked like tetramorium caespitum but the queen I caught didn't look like a tetramorium queen....
If anyone has any stories like this please share ;D
On day 3 of my holiday, I read in the paper that there was a mass nuptial flight in the uk I was gutted to have missed it. However my grief was short lived when later that day all the Lasius niger nests around my area were teaming with alates. I had to rush down to the nearest store to get a container of some sort and came back with some little tubs. I managed to catch 3 Lasius queens and saved the rest...
Later at 4-5pm on the same day I was walking back up from the beach, when I found a lone mymicia rubra queen with only 1 wing. I tried to catch her but she went Down a crack in the stairs, I was kicking myself
sadly this one got away...Now I can't remember what day of my holiday it was but it was near the end, I was walking my dogs along a sandy bank with a beach over view. Wearing flip flops I was unaware what was going to happen next, until I felt a sharp pain on my foot and to my surprise it was a Formica rufa worker. I had trod on a whole nest of these ladies and was now paying the price. However on my way back I was shocked to find a queen she was a biggen to around 13-15mm long with the exact colouring of a worker just much bigger. I quickly gathered her up, but never made the journey as she kept spraying acid everywhere
On second to last day I was at the pub, pretty typical me but after having a few pints I decided to go on a long beach walk. This beach was very quiet and on holiday I visited it often, but I know why as there where 125 (yes I counted) sets up. As I made my way up after my little strole I came across a mystery nest with a few alates left, and eventually found a mated queen. She even made the journey back but never laid eggs?
which was disappointing as the ants were very cool ;D they looked like tetramorium caespitum but the queen I caught didn't look like a tetramorium queen....If anyone has any stories like this please share ;D
