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Post by brandonholt142 on Jul 27, 2017 16:00:56 GMT
I thought they went on for a a few days but I've not seen anymore swarms since ant day and it's quite disappointing since I wanted some more queens
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Post by jeoff82 on Jul 27, 2017 17:35:56 GMT
I thought they went on for a a few days but I've not seen anymore swarms since ant day and it's quite disappointing since I wanted some more queens There will be more flights when the weather settles.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 27, 2017 21:39:47 GMT
Formica species will be by now, but others like Myrmica are still to fly in parts of Britain in August.
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Post by jeoff82 on Jul 27, 2017 22:17:08 GMT
Last year towards the end of August I found Lasius flavus and Lasius umbratus flew on a couple of occasions and I shall be looking out for umbratus queens again next month.
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Post by brandonholt142 on Jul 28, 2017 0:36:26 GMT
Last year towards the end of August I found Lasius flavus and Lasius umbratus flew on a couple of occasions and I shall be looking out for umbratus queens again next month. Thanks guys and so should I be expecting more around August then, and how do you know when the less common species of ants are even flying? I only knew this year because there was thousands of Niger queens, but that's not really gonna help since I don't even know where any red ants are or even the meadow ones.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 28, 2017 6:01:14 GMT
If August comes up with the right weather conditions, there is still time for more flights of local species. We need hot humid weather, with just maybe the odd shower and no wind, so fingers crossed and eyes peeled The yellow meadow ants (L.flavus) have raised small raised mounds amongst tufts of grass. They start by making small air holes up through the mounds, and then crawl out testing the air and weather conditions in the same way nigers do in readiness for flights. It is the best time to see flavus in abundance and most of my photos are taken at this time of them. This is the very first indication of where they are, and how advanced the flights maybe. We found rubras by lifting stones and searching through the grass. Ant hunting is all about looking and searching in your area, or maybe if on holiday if you have spare test tubes on you. When we went to Wales on holiday last month, Wood had a spare tube and pot on him just in case we saw anything.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 28, 2017 7:27:15 GMT
Do you live near any hills Brandon? If you do then check them out on a sunny day after the previous day had rain, as these are where you will find Myrmica often fly as they like to fly from high ground. Ants can be found in parks or gardens too, but many nest under rocks, so check out any local quarries.
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Post by brandonholt142 on Jul 28, 2017 11:18:32 GMT
Do you live near any hills Brandon? If you do then check them out on a sunny day after the previous day had rain, as these are where you will find Myrmica often fly as they like to fly from high ground. Ants can be found in parks or gardens too, but many nest under rocks, so check out any local quarries. Thanks for your replies, yes I have two field like parks near my house. I guess I'll start searching for the raised little mounds. Thank god for this forum aha I'd be lost to be honest. Last question I have a Messor barbarus colony, I've seen people give them honey but mine wouldn't take it. I tried giving them a few dead ants and 2 flies, but I don't think they ate it. Is there anything else like I can maybe find outside to try feeding them.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 28, 2017 12:02:49 GMT
Do you live near any hills Brandon? If you do then check them out on a sunny day after the previous day had rain, as these are where you will find Myrmica often fly as they like to fly from high ground. Ants can be found in parks or gardens too, but many nest under rocks, so check out any local quarries. Thanks for your replies, yes I have two field like parks near my house. I guess I'll start searching for the raised little mounds. Thank god for this forum aha I'd be lost to be honest. Last question I have a Messor barbarus colony, I've seen people give them honey but mine wouldn't take it. I tried giving them a few dead ants and 2 flies, but I don't think they ate it. Is there anything else like I can maybe find outside to try feeding them. Spiders or other insects like wasps, but kill them first.
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Post by brandonholt142 on Jul 30, 2017 18:42:07 GMT
If some of the queens haven't shed there wings does it mean they haven't mated ? Because I have some in a tank and seems that they just run around the top part of the dirt while other have gotten rid of there wings
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Post by brandonholt142 on Jul 30, 2017 18:43:11 GMT
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 30, 2017 21:33:40 GMT
If some of the queens haven't shed there wings does it mean they haven't mated ? Because I have some in a tank and seems that they just run around the top part of the dirt while other have gotten rid of there wings If their wings are still on it is more likely they are unmated, but not always as it has been known for some mated queens to retain them.
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