I need help finding tetramorium...

Where and when are you finding queen ants? A section to share nuptial flight schedules by ant species and locality

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TopTierTetra
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:38 pm

I need help finding tetramorium...

Post: # 59900Post TopTierTetra
Thu Jun 27, 2019 5:09 pm

So, within the two total years of antkeeping I've been involved in, I haven't caught a single tetramorium queen despite them being so prevalent in my area(s)! What am I doing wrong? I usually go out at around 10:30 to 11:00 am to look, and spend about an hour or two doing so. This summer has been very weird for Illinois regarding the weather, but I've caught at least 13 camponotus queens and 2 tapinoma queens, so I don't think weather is a problem. For those who caught or are experienced in catching tetramorium, do you have any tips or know where to find a queen who's starting her founding chamber? Thanks!

Camponotus
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:48 am

Re: I need help finding tetramorium...

Post: # 59929Post Camponotus
Fri Jun 28, 2019 2:45 am

I found them 15 on tennis court

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Whitelotus
Posts: 72
Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 5:50 pm
Location: San Joaquin County, California

Re: I need help finding tetramorium...

Post: # 59953Post Whitelotus
Fri Jun 28, 2019 1:32 pm

From my experience, Tetramorium queen can be easily caught in local parks. Most parks have Tetramorium or Lasius colonies from my area. The nuptial flight may have already passed as Tetramorium where I live have gone through their flights in the last half of May. There still may be a few flying around but I have not had any luck finding them. I would recommend looking for them either in the early hours of the morning or the late hours of the afternoon. I have found about 25 Tetramorium queens so far in my city.

One more tip I can provide, see if you can find any Tetramorium colonies present in your area and see if you can locate any dead alates nearby. It is a signal that their flights are taking place or may have already occurred, depending on how "fresh" the corpse is.

You might be able to locate a few queens in spiders nests but it is a risk tasking them from their as they may have already been poisoned.

TopTierTetra
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:38 pm

Re: I need help finding tetramorium...

Post: # 59999Post TopTierTetra
Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:23 pm

Makes sense to me :mrgreen: I'll look earlier in the day as well as in local parks. Thank you!
[Doriyah 4 life]
Keeper of:
×1 Formica Sp. ?
×2 Tapinoma Sessile
×6 Camponotus Pennsylvanicus
×1 Monomorium pharaonis
×6 Tetramorium Immigrans
Wishlist:
-Pheidole

gsparrow
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2018 7:10 pm
Location: Delaware, USA

Re: I need help finding tetramorium...

Post: # 60093Post gsparrow
Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:46 pm

I found a bunch of tetramorium queens after flight under packed down leaves that are along the edge of parking lots or in corners of tennis courts. Gently flip over the leaves and see what you uncover.

Camponotus
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:48 am

Re: I need help finding tetramorium...

Post: # 60109Post Camponotus
Mon Jul 01, 2019 2:19 am

Congrats and good luck.I told you tennis courts!! :D

TopTierTetra
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:38 pm

Re: I need help finding tetramorium...

Post: # 60264Post TopTierTetra
Thu Jul 04, 2019 2:20 am

UPDATE: after asking all of you kind folk for advice, I caught 6 tetramorium queens! I set an alarm for 6:00 in the morning and was very successful finding them all at around that time. I could have caught many more but I simply don't have the space!
[Doriyah 4 life]
Keeper of:
×1 Formica Sp. ?
×2 Tapinoma Sessile
×6 Camponotus Pennsylvanicus
×1 Monomorium pharaonis
×6 Tetramorium Immigrans
Wishlist:
-Pheidole

Camponotus
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:48 am

Re: I need help finding tetramorium...

Post: # 60274Post Camponotus
Thu Jul 04, 2019 10:23 am

Congrats! I hope you can get your colony

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Whitelotus
Posts: 72
Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 5:50 pm
Location: San Joaquin County, California

Re: I need help finding tetramorium...

Post: # 60457Post Whitelotus
Mon Jul 08, 2019 3:06 am

That is lovely to hear.

susanl
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Jul 09, 2019 9:21 am
Location: Vancouver

Re: I need help finding tetramorium...

Post: # 60572Post susanl
Tue Jul 09, 2019 9:28 am

Tetramorium are having their nuptial flights right now in Vancouver at YVR. I have sequestered 6 queens so far. :D

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