Oklahoma Nuptial Flight Sightings 2020

[Clwalker]

Also if anyone has any queens they are looking to sell I would be thrilled for my students to see some ants before the end of the school year!

[AM1C39]

If you are looking to buy a colony have a look at the GAN project. You should keep an eye out a all times just to be safe.

[iREDRUM]

Hey everyone,

I know I have been MIA for awhile and I try to get on here but I forget because Im so busy but I hope everyone is doing well this year so far. TBH I have had some pretty bad luck with Queens either not being fertile or not laying. My oldest son found an Ant colony under one of our Strawberry Pots and much to my surprise it was a fantastic-looking colony. I ended up uprooting them with a shovel and doing a transfer that takes several days to complete but it was worth it. I will send pictures of the colony. The GAN project is really nice, I have been waiting for a Fire Ant colony or Queen to show up so I can purchase it but no luck.

[iREDRUM]

CLWalker, there is nothing wrong with finding a colony outside and starting with it. As long as you find the Queen/s and you safely transport them and the workers there is no issue.

[Clwalker]

Thanks for the feedback! Yea its been fun learning a good setup.

Beginner question here, are queen ants tiny here?? All the videos I watch show people with massive queen ants. However each queen I think I've found checks every single morphology box except the size! Theyre bigger than the workers but nothing like YouTube

So far ive only identified little black ant queens and what i believe to be acrobat ants.

[iREDRUM]

That depends on the species, my Winter Ants(Prenolepis imparis) the Queens are bigger than their workers but not what you think of when watching the videos. This species is smaller so the queen will also be smaller. For Camponotus species of ants, they are much bigger and the Queen is also bigger. In regards to the size, it just depends on the species you have or are looking for.

[iREDRUM]

I also stream on twitch which I have an Ant cam for during the intermissions is what I put up on the stream is my ants just being ants.

[Fourteen]

Hi! So I am wanting to try an larger species this year, something like camponotus or pogonomyrmex. Anyone had any luck with those in Oklahoma, and anyone have any idea when I should expect to see them flying around here? So far I have found nothing, sadly, even though the conditions have been wonderful. I will keep everyone here posted on if I find anything

[AM1C39]

I like to keep camponotus and they have their nuptial flights in June, July and may.

[iREDRUM]

Fourteen,

Are you around the Tulsa area? If so the riverside walkway has them crossing there a lot. If you want more details let me know