Massachusetts Flight Sightings

Where and when are you finding queen ants? A section to share nuptial flight schedules by ant species and locality

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Nathant
Posts: 181
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:57 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Massachusetts Flight Sightings

Post: # 17540Post Nathant
Sat Feb 25, 2017 10:01 am

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?
Massachusetts Nuptial Flight Thread | Massachusetts Anting Thread | My Ants

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Nathant
Posts: 181
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:57 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Massachusetts Flight Sightings

Post: # 17544Post Nathant
Sat Feb 25, 2017 3:52 pm

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.

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Nathant
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Location: Massachusetts

Re: Massachusetts Flight Sightings

Post: # 17546Post Nathant
Sat Feb 25, 2017 5:04 pm

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?

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Nathant
Posts: 181
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:57 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Massachusetts Flight Sightings

Post: # 17575Post Nathant
Sun Feb 26, 2017 1:40 pm

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.

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Nathant
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Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:57 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Massachusetts Flight Sightings

Post: # 17654Post Nathant
Tue Feb 28, 2017 5:46 pm

Tetramorium are still active, believe it or not.

I was in a young hardwood forest with a lot of leaf litter, and I lifted a rock and there was a queen! Sadly, I lost her in some leaf litter but it looked like an Aphaenogaster queen. Does anyone know if they lay eggs after hibernation? She was all alone under there aside from some Isopod friends hehe.
Massachusetts Nuptial Flight Thread | Massachusetts Anting Thread | My Ants

zkublin

Re: Massachusetts Flight Sightings

Post: # 18408Post zkublin
Wed Mar 22, 2017 11:45 am

Why did the warm weather have to leave? I was getting all ready for anting season to start and then we went back to 2 weeks of cold :cry:

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Nathant
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Location: Massachusetts

Re: Massachusetts Flight Sightings

Post: # 18410Post Nathant
Wed Mar 22, 2017 2:03 pm

Yeah too bad. Had a feeling that wouldn't last long.

It won't be too long now though!

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Nathant
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Location: Massachusetts

Re: Massachusetts Flight Sightings

Post: # 19168Post Nathant
Mon Apr 10, 2017 5:35 am

Really excited for today and tomorrow. I am really confident they will fly.

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Nathant
Posts: 181
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:57 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Massachusetts Flight Sightings

Post: # 19208Post Nathant
Mon Apr 10, 2017 7:03 pm

All I had here in Dracut was males flying. Not a queen to be seen.

zkublin

Re: Massachusetts Flight Sightings

Post: # 19235Post zkublin
Tue Apr 11, 2017 9:21 am

I was not able to find anything in Somerville yesterday. I will keep a lookout for flights around here today though.

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