2012 myrmica rubra flights?

[UKantz]

I need help, I'm am very interested in keeping myrmica rubra (tho don't intend in buying them) as they seem to be a very active aggressive spec. Trouble is the only time I have ever seen a reproductive cast is when I was on holiday in Jersey, I have never even seen a worker here

But I was just wondering at what time of the year do they fly?

Since there has been a warm spell over here I'll be looking for some rubra workers so I'll at least know where abouts I'll be looking for when the season starts

Thanks

[batspiderfish]

Myrmica usually fly from July to September. In the spring, you may very well spot a foraging queen from last fall (although these queens have brood already, and will not settle down as easily as a recently-mated queen.) You also probably wouldn't have success at attempting polygynous colonies with spring queens.

[Jenny]

Most UK ants fly from July to Sept like Bat said above. Usually after a shower of rain and it turns humid. L. flavus always seem to fly in the evening here as they always catch me out, when I have no collecting pots on me and no camera L.niger fly mid-morning onwards, when it is hot and still. They give you plenty of warning if you keep your eyes to the ground. The males come out of the entrance holes by the dozens followed by the queens.
This of course doesn't mean after the flights they will drop at your feet, but you can still collect some before they scuttle off into the grass. Rubra's are harder to find, we have small nests here but I only see the workers forage early morning, and late evening. They try to keep clear of those dreaded nigers as they dominate this area far too much.

Welcome to AHW by the way, glad to see you are now activated You will learn lots here so enjoy the forum

[UKantz]

Thanks for all the quick responses

Its strange you find Lasius in midday, as all the colonies around me fly around 5-7 pm and the Lasius niger and flavus fly at the same time this has happened 3 yrs in a row now. Is it strange to find theses 2 spec flying at the same time?

[Wood~Ant]

Mar 28, 2012 15:27:16 GMT UKantz said:

Thanks for all the quick responses

Its strange you find Lasius in midday, as all the colonies around me fly around 5-7 pm and the Lasius niger and flavus fly at the same time this has happened 3 yrs in a row now. Is it strange to find theses 2 spec flying at the same time?

It isn't strange for related genera to fly at the same time, though this very much depends on weather conditions and where you live. Of course Lasius alienus never fly before October, and may not even fly then if the weather is bad.

Myrmica tend to fly from mid to late afternoon, and into sunset here in Britain as do some other myrmicine species. Formica fly from late morning onward into the afternoon, and mating flights often follow heavy rain storms; but the day has to be very humid with hot sultry weather for most of our native ants.

[UKantz]

This info has really helped thanks

Wish u all a happy - and hopefully fruitful queen hunt this year... but still 4-6 months away

[msi]

if anyone could catch me a group of queens of L. flavus when the flights happen, as I don't know where any are.

[batspiderfish]

In North America, at least, Lasius flavus likes to fly in the fall.