Nuptial Flight

[Shawn]

Seems like the L.niger sexuals in my street are out and about getting ready for Nuptial Flights, not to early? Loads are around they are not flying but my neighbour over the way has loads in her garden.....*Shawn runs for pots*

It's not very warm either tonight but it is going to rain

Shawn

[Lasius flavus]

I'm amazed that there are winged ants so early. I know that there are no winged ants around here yet. Lasuis flavus have winged ant cocoons in their nests at the moment, and L. niger have too. Myrmica rubra only seem to have winged ant larvae at the moment. Formica rufa have flown already, but then they normally fly in June. Have a good time catching lots of mated queens (hopefully!) when they do fly.

[Wood~Ant]

Yes there will be winged ants in many nests by now, but it is much too early for ants such as Lasius or Myrmica to fly in the UK, as they don't fly until late July or into August.
Still, it is a sign of things to come

[Honeydewman]

My Myrmica rubra have had winged males since Mid May. I have watched with great amusement Males trying to mate with larger workers. However, are they not early? Usually they are only Pupae at this time of year are they not?
As to the Lasius niger, I found an unmated Queen out in the open this morning....again are they not early?

[Wood~Ant]

No it isn't too early for winged males and/or females to be testing the air as it were, as later this month many wild nests will be sending out mating flights; and there will be a second and maybe a 3rd flight during August.
Ant colonies in the wild often spread out the times of their nuptial flights like this, as it gives the new queens a better chance of making a success of colony founding

A case of not putting all your eggs into one basket, as if the first matings fail to produce many new queens, then the 2nd or 3rd will act as a backup plan

[Lasius flavus]

I've seen the first Lasuis flavus queens and males poking their heads out from the cracks in our patio, and there are lots of males in Myrimca rubra nests now, but I haven't seen any queens. There are also Formica fusca queens around , but I haven't seen any Lasuis niger alates yet. I'm watching them closely, as I remember that last year, the first Lasuis niger flight was around now, but the later one, (which seemed to be much bigger) happened on the 1st August.

[toudzard]

Just go to a open area and watch them walk around at night ;D thats what I do for my Fire Ants