Newcastle,NSW, Australia

[KhaoticAnts]

Camponotus consobrinus (banded sugar ant) have begun to come out of the nest with several queens sighted, I'll go out later tonight to see if they have begun their nuptial flight and hopefully catch a few dealates as these are my favourite ants and have wanted to raise a colony since I first started.

[KhaoticAnts]

http://imgur.com/a/tJppY
pictures of an unmated queen I caught and will release

[chickenman297]

We have those here in Brisbane. They are gorgeous ants.

[KhaoticAnts]

One of the nest's ended up flying and with the help of the local kids caught 4 queens but I have a question. I can still see virgin queens of the same species in different nests does that mean there will be more nuptial flights or have they "missed out" on their chance to fly? Any info on this subject is greatly appreciated

[Batspiderfish]

It means that these colonies will most likely be having another flight at the next opportune moment.

[KhaoticAnts]

https://imgur.com/a/hnYIL
I managed to catch 27 of these queens even though I was eaten alive by mosquitos and had a run in with a red bellied black snake. The 4 in the bottom pictures were caught a week previous and have laid eggs the rest were caught tonight after the species 2nd nuptial flight this month with the help of a few neighbours. Very happy