Requesting Nuptial Flight Detailed Reports

[MLavers]

Hi all,

Most of us by now know some basic details on when to look for queens of various species. We know what months to look, we know that when it's raining, it's generally bad, but the day after is great.

I want to pull together our collective observations. It's believed that ants use atmospheric cues to time their flights, and that related species us the same cues. We end up with synchronous flights from different nests.

This time of year, Lasius sp. are still flying in North America. We know they fly starting around August, and possibly into October, depending on where we are. More likely it's depending on weather. So let's start there.

If you've seen a Lasius sp. flight, or caught some Lasius Neoniger, Lasius Claviger, etc. please post the details. Where were you? What time was it? What was the weather like? Were they flying? Getting ready to fly? Or were they already going to ground at that point? What was the weather like the day or two before?

The more information we can collect and combine, the better we can understand these amazing creatures, and make the most of our search windows.

[MLavers]

I might as well go first.

18 September 2016 & 19 September 2016
Lasius Claviger & Lasius Murphyi (both are Lasius Neoniger social parasite sp.)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

18 Sep @ approx. 3pm to 5pm
Sunny / 25C / 60% RH / Winds ~10km/h (as per historic weather information)
5 queens found on sidewalks (post flight) all with wings still attached.

19 Sep @ approx. 4pm to 6pm
Sunny / 26C / 50% RH / Winds ~7km/h (as per historic weather information)
2 queens found on sidewalks. Wings removed.

Previous day (17 Sept) there was a significant rain (11.2mm/ 0.5") starting at 2pm, ending 11pm. Temp overnight >19C.
The 5 days prior were dry, 13C to 15C overnight.

It seems the flight itself was on 18 Sep, prior to 3pm. Unsure what time milling started at hives. Unsure what time actual flights started. Was out on 18 Sep at ~11am, saw nothing.