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Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 4, 2013 17:56:45 GMT
Now July is here, watch those wild nests very closely as this month is perhaps the best time to find nuptial flights occurring, from which there will be many newly mated queens wandering around on paths and lawns, car parks and gardens; and of course any open places in the countryside. With the expected heatwave next week, and increased temperatures, both Lasius and Myrmica species will start their mating flights, and several other ants will fly well into August, so I expect many members will soon be posting journals of newly acquired queens they can literally pick up for free.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 4, 2013 18:10:25 GMT
Just to add, make sure you have containers/test tubes ready, even have one or two in your pocket. I have been out shopping, and seen queens wandering around the bus and train station. If you are out of your local area, you might just catch some different species and kick yourself because you have nothing to collect them in.
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Post by Jonzii on Jul 4, 2013 21:11:23 GMT
I'm already prepared with several test tubes in anticipation. Never caught a queen before so hoping to change that. For all you guys with some experience, how do you go about getting the Queen into a test tube without injuring them? I would imagine they aren't just going to wander in without some sort of encouragement.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jul 4, 2013 22:36:40 GMT
I'm already prepared with several test tubes in anticipation. Never caught a queen before so hoping to change that. For all you guys with some experience, how do you go about getting the Queen into a test tube without injuring them? I would imagine they aren't just going to wander in without some sort of encouragement. The simplest way is to pick them up gently with your fingers, though with a bit of care you can make a disorientated young queen go into a collecting pot; but this does require some patience and a lot of experience.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 5, 2013 18:14:47 GMT
The nigers everywhere are getting busier, entrance holes are opening wider all around our estate. Keep an eye out for winged males roaming around just inside these entrance holes, you will see them build up over the hot humid days. I have seen flavus do this in the evening outside our back gate, they build up speed and slowly come pouring out, to be followed by the queens. The only trouble with flavus is, if they are too late in the evening, like 8-9pm, the breeze and temperature can change, then they leave it for another night, Oh the frustration if you want to capture any or take photos:P
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Post by Jonzii on Jul 17, 2013 14:03:58 GMT
Just spotted my first queen of the season. Winged L. niger crawling on the floor outside my work, have nothing to put her in though! Oh well, more to come hopefully. I'm in Derbyshire by the way, get out there, they could be making an appearance in your area too!
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Post by embernet on Jul 17, 2013 17:37:49 GMT
I've seen nothing down my way.
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Post by Black Ant on Jul 17, 2013 18:48:04 GMT
Plenty of winged males and a few females coming up to the nest surface, just not flying yet but they are very close to
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Post by embernet on Jul 17, 2013 18:55:35 GMT
Whereabouts are you Black Ant?
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Post by Black Ant on Jul 17, 2013 19:00:54 GMT
Whereabouts are you Black Ant? Malvern in the midlands
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Post by Jenny on Jul 18, 2013 5:10:13 GMT
They reckon flying ants are 2 weeks early, in the paper this morning? flying ants I saw 1 winged queen wandering along a path yesterday, but that was all.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 22, 2013 18:40:37 GMT
The nigers have had their flights today in this area. Whilst out shopping, one happened in our back garden (The nigers from under our slabs). But all around this estate lone niger queens can be seen hunting for a nesting site. It should be the flavus next, but I have not seen them out at all yet.
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Post by embernet on Jul 22, 2013 19:11:55 GMT
Seen nothing in the South West.
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Post by Remson on Jul 22, 2013 20:54:44 GMT
there was a small flight this morning in my back garden caught myself several niger queens
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2013 21:46:54 GMT
I haven't seen any flights yet, although today I saw lots of Lasius niger workers from the nests in my garden running around frantically while a few alate males were poking their heads out.
The conditions mustn't have been quite right for them to fly, but tomorrow looks like more rain so hopefully this will encourage them to fly.
I'm in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
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