Massachusetts Flight Sightings

[noebl1]

I've got the vids.

Thank you for this! I'd upvote you if I could You may also want to post these to the FC thread on P. Imparis.

[Nathant]

I've got the vids.

Thank you for this! I'd upvote you if I could You may also want to post these to the FC thread on P. Imparis.

I definitely will. Thank you.

[Nathant]

So apperently we are getting this cold front starting around Thursday... that's too bad.

[noebl1]

Yup, noticed going to be back to seasonal temps for a bit, definitely was a tease. Though nothing to say we can't hit 70s again in March (which is literally next week.) Worst case we the average time we hit 70s is April, which is closer than we think at this point. I see on FC someone in Philly PA found a P. Imparis yesterday, so flights are getting closer to us

Last year it was like that with Tetramorium where you could track their progress from south west to north east based on sightings; was pretty cool.

[Nathant]

2/25/17
Dracut, MA
10:29 AM
62 F
80% humidity

The P. imparis colonies in my yard are still as active as before, foraging on trees. No alate sightings. However, I found lots under rocks a couple feet away from their trees. Perhaps they nest under rocks rather than the trees?

[Nathant]

2/25/17
Dracut, MA
12:08 PM
62 F
78% humidity

I found an active Tetramorium mound in a sidewalk crack! There were a few workers just managing the mound it looked like.


2/25/17
Dracut, MA
12:38 PM
69 F
60% humidity

I found a bunch of Tetramorium mounds in dirt over a widespread area; I'd say about 10 feet accross the edge of a sidewalk. Very cool they are becoming active, but they will feel the cold's wrath soon.


2/25/17
Dracut, MA
1:00 PM
69 F
60% humidity

I lifted up a piece of fallen fence in an area with a few Hardwood trees and found a bunch of P. imparis alates, along with workers. They were mostly males but there were 1 or 2 females. They quickly sped deeper into the nest, and the workers scattered. They are definitely prepared to fly, especially since the alates were at the highest point of the nest.

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I didn't record anything for this, but I also found what I think was a Tetramorium worker in some leaf litter, but something was off; The head seemed small. While I am pretty sure it was just Tetramorium it could have also been Stenamma.

We are getting our first taste of ant activity this year but sadly this will probably stop soon since we are getting colder now. Like noebl1 said, just a tease.

[noebl1]

Up in Manchester, NH today and saw P. Imparis active in the middle of the city. No alates seen.

[Nathant]

Cool. Since it has been so warm over the past few days, I am considering taking my ants out from hibernation as well. What were the P. imparis doing?

[noebl1]

Cool. Since it has been so warm over the past few days, I am considering taking my ants out from hibernation as well. What were the P. imparis doing?

I was walking down a stairwell, looked down and saw them foraging along the steps in the middle of the city... ironic I can't find them by my house, but I found them there I had a kid in my arms so couldn't really stop and watch them much. It was along a steep grass wall, no woods in sight. Guessing nest is under the concrete steps somewhere.

I saw some Campanotus that overwintered in an electrical box outside were indeed out if hibernation today and *very* active when I opened the box. I am probably going to take my Tetramorium out of hibernation as their water supply is almost out. Rather get them out a couple weeks early vs having them dry out.

[Nathant]

Did a quick look at the P. imparis colony in my yard this mornig and I could not find anything, hence the cold temps. Sadly their flights are probably now postponed late into March, or April if this is the worst-case scenario.