Arizona 2017 ant sightings

[AntLove4Ever]

I created this topic to share what ants you have found in Arizona this nuptial flight season. Plz feel free to share photos and stories here

[Barfdog]

So I was out for a bike ride with my girlfriend and we were going through a local park and I found a tetramorium nest and the moment I keeled down to take a look I instantly saw a mated queen outside the nest. All the workers were trying to make the nest entrance bigger and preparing, but I saw a tetramorium queen! I couldn't capture her because I didn't have a test tube but even if I did it would have been hard since there was lots of leaf litter. She was promptly escorted back into the nest once my presence was known. Keep an eye out, keep your test tubes on you!

[Mowteam]

I went on a walk in my neighborhood and saw lots of active ant colonies. I captured ab queen ant. I think. It was moving relatively calmly and has the shape of a queen, but I am still a noob could someone identify if it is a queen or not. I'll post a picture.

[Mowteam]

I went on a walk in my neighborhood and saw lots of active ant colonies. I captured ab queen ant. I think. It was moving relatively calmly and has the shape of a queen, but I am still a noob could someone identify if it is a queen or not. I'll post a picture.

Never mind. After a little more research and observing the ant I am pretty sure it is a worker. I put it in a test tube set up, so I'll check on it tomorrow and if it is dead then it was a worker.

[KingKyle26]

I went on a walk in my neighborhood and saw lots of active ant colonies. I captured ab queen ant. I think. It was moving relatively calmly and has the shape of a queen, but I am still a noob could someone identify if it is a queen or not. I'll post a picture.

Never mind. After a little more research and observing the ant I am pretty sure it is a worker. I put it in a test tube set up, so I'll check on it tomorrow and if it is dead then it was a worker.

If it dies, that does not mean it was a worker! It could be a worker and live on in the test tube for a while, or be a queen and die of an unknown reason.

[Mowteam]

The ant died. . I think it was a worker because it's gaster was not enormous. Also the mesosoma was pretty small. When someone finds a tetramorium queen please contact me.

[AntLove4Ever]

I found 5 queens I caught from a colony on the move! I am pretty sure they are either pharoah ants or thief ants but I can't tell because they are so dang similar. In a couple of days I will post a video on my YouTube channel (AntVault) so go check that out! I'll keep you guys informed of what I'm finding.

And btw, I would spare a queen or two if interested, just let me know! I am in the Phoenix Arizona area. I don't want money, just a couple of test tubes!

[DestinM]

Does anyone else find it funny that Arizona, which is one of the most ant diverse states has hardly any ant keepers?

[Martialis]

It seems like it has quite a few.

[MichaelJones]

Me being one of them, should have told me about this thread AntLove4Ever. I have a wild ant colony outside my house that I been keeping an eye on. I have seen ants but no queens :/