Catching Queens During Nuptial Flight

Questions from those who are just starting or considering getting into the ant keeping hobby. If you’re intimidated or confused by the in-depth posts of the other sections of this forum, feel free to post here, and we'll start from square one!

Moderator: ooper01

How many queens have you caught this summer?

0
16
16%
1
25
25%
5
29
29%
10
17
17%
I'm good 20+
14
14%
 
Total votes: 101

Ants500
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:18 am
Location: Syracuse NY

Catching Queens During Nuptial Flight

Post: # 26009Post Ants500
Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:22 pm

Does anyone have tips for finding queens during nuptial flight, I've tried all summer and found only 1 camponotus queen! It seems like the only way to is just random wandering, is there any other method to finding them?

Antsinohio

Re: Catching Queens During Nuptial Flight

Post: # 26167Post Antsinohio
Sat Jul 22, 2017 4:11 am

If you find a small pile of loose dirt you can dig it up about 4 to 6 inches deep. You can also find them at night where theres lights on all night mostly you will mostly find tetramorium queens and males tetramorium is one of my favorite species they are fast growing

muhilanirudh

Re: Catching Queens During Nuptial Flight

Post: # 26213Post muhilanirudh
Sat Jul 22, 2017 8:55 am

Finding queens is very easy

1) queens will fly mainly after a rain

2) always keep your balcony lights on queens fly right in to your home

3) queens get attracted to light

4) you can find queens in midday hiding under stones barcks BUT BE CARFUL THERE MIGHT BE SNAKES UNDER THE ROCKS
:oops: :oops: :oops: :shock: :shock: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

Ants500
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:18 am
Location: Syracuse NY

Re: Catching Queens During Nuptial Flight

Post: # 26359Post Ants500
Sat Jul 22, 2017 6:17 pm

Do they get attracted to LED lights or regular?
Founding:
-3 tetramorium queens
-1 Formica queen
-4 groups of acorn ant queens (they're polygenous)
Super excited to start this amazing hobby :D

muhilanirudh

Re: Catching Queens During Nuptial Flight

Post: # 27720Post muhilanirudh
Wed Aug 02, 2017 10:14 am

They best get attracted to CFL or florocent bulbs but LED is fine

Ants500
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:18 am
Location: Syracuse NY

Re: Catching Queens During Nuptial Flight

Post: # 27847Post Ants500
Thu Aug 03, 2017 3:17 pm

Ok thanks :)
Founding:
-3 tetramorium queens
-1 Formica queen
-4 groups of acorn ant queens (they're polygenous)
Super excited to start this amazing hobby :D

User avatar
Jadeninja9
Posts: 732
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2017 9:00 pm
Location: SF Bay Area, California

Re: Catching Queens During Nuptial Flight

Post: # 27869Post Jadeninja9
Thu Aug 03, 2017 5:45 pm

I just found 10 queens today. The area I had caught them in had been warmer than usual this week. It was also really humid and windy. I guess those were the perfect conditions. There doesn't have to be rain, I think it just has to be humid.
Keeper of:
1x Camponotus Hyatti
1x Lasius alienus colonies
1x Tetramorium immigrans

VisualDarkness
Posts: 26
Joined: Sun Jul 30, 2017 3:21 pm
Location: Uppsala Sweden

Re: Catching Queens During Nuptial Flight

Post: # 28515Post VisualDarkness
Wed Aug 09, 2017 6:58 am

I found three in my hair during my last walk. They are everywhere here now.

AqdasHassaan

Re: Catching Queens During Nuptial Flight

Post: # 28638Post AqdasHassaan
Thu Aug 10, 2017 11:27 am

VisualDarkness wrote:
Wed Aug 09, 2017 6:58 am
I found three in my hair during my last walk. They are everywhere here now.
You lucky beast. :lol: :lol:

Kovoco
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2018 5:48 am
Location: Canada

Re: Catching Queens During Nuptial Flight

Post: # 38003Post Kovoco
Sun Jun 17, 2018 6:06 am

I have not found any ant queens, I will take even the most common types I really want to get into ant keeping. :cry: :(

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