Athens Texas .. Queen hunting.

[GreenMan]

been looking have seen nothing, we get alot of fire ants here, but i hate them lol, and alot of leaf cutter ants, I've never seen any others, yet there are tons of different ants in my area. guess im missing something. Do all flights happen after a rain?

[idahoantgirl]

been looking have seen nothing, we get alot of fire ants here, but i hate them lol, and alot of leaf cutter ants, I've never seen any others, yet there are tons of different ants in my area. guess im missing something. Do all flights happen after a rain?

no they don't. they often fly right after a rain but don't always.
here is one of mikeys videos on tips for queen hunting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfaK8TvM0qA

[larynx]

doesnt have to be rain, just high humidity and heat usually cue flights, from what ive seen. my theory is that the alates need to have softer, less brittle wings to fly without breaking them. but they also need them to be able to dry when done flying. so high humidity and high temp make sense for that, IMO.
also after a rain the ground is softer and hydrated, so it is easier to dig a founding chamber and have water for survival, and founding. this is what i have gathered from my ant hunting.

[MadVampy]

I have figured with at least Solenopsis (Fire ants) they flay after a rain because it softens the ground up allowing the queen a much easier time digging her founding chamber.