ANTSTORE World of Ants

[MilitANT]

In my opinion, the easiest way to find mated Queens is to check around street lights at night. I always find at least one or two -- on humid nights, I can find lots more and some times I can see the mating flights take place. So this is my advice for the newbies here and for the pros as well: if you want to find new Queens, wait for night to come and then check around the street lights! Street lights near woody or grassy areas are best but I find Queens even in the middle of the city some times. If you don't find any on the first night or even the second -- have patience. They will come eventually. This method works and it's much better than digging up established colonies.

Another good method is to check the roof of your car in the morning after the rain. If there's any condensation on the roof you might find a Queen or two trapped in the water. I found 5 tetramorium Queens on the roof of my car this very morning and I saw many more on the other cars around me. The water on your car is like a small lake to the small Queens and they become trapped.

This might sound obvious but here's my final method to finding Queens: just stop and look down! Ants are so small mating flights can be happening all around you and you would not know it! If you stop and look down you'll find Queens waiting to be picked up. Yes, it's THAT easy.

[ashhad1]

Ya, but this would only work at a specific time in the year, atleast in europe anyways. Dunno about america but good work there , i think its one of the first how to find a queen post ive seen yet =D

[Spore]

I don't think this would work in england, for nights dont get that humid (just cold!!!). And i don't think many ants would go on car roofs for no reason.

[SteveUK28]

i agree there spore, ive never seen a queen ant or any ant on a car roof. And i have never seen any ants about at night really either.. As you said it just gets cold.

[JimmyVe]

In deed, it depends where you live and for which species you are looking. Some ants here only have a mating flight during day. But i'm sure it works for you Militant.

[Messorus]

Last summer I was on Malta island and there was nauptials of 3 mediterraneal species together, and I was there, but with just 5 tubes! It was terrible.. Nauptials was in night on the street light...

[anquietas]

wat i thought that queens would travel away from lights so wouldnt the street light thing not work?

[Spore]

Bugs get confused when around lights so they just walk about anywere.
The way i catch rubra queens in my garden is to put a lid with a Lot of sugar water on it, place it on the ground by there nest and wait. In about a hours time there are a MILLION workers and Tons of queens. So i just pick the lid up and put it in the tank (making sure the original colonie can still survive).

[KiamCameron]

Wow the queens come out to hunt ? I dont think they do lol If so thats a strange behaveiour usually only the workers get the food not queens

[mzfckr]

in some housewifes forums, they have some tips to fight against ants in house. one of them is to put some kind of food(probably raw meat or something sweet) and wait.then take the ''big ants''(queens) and kill them.

[tail__]

Actually new Myrmica queens sometimes go hunting, often also at night, until they have at least a few workers. But for queens of existing and numerous colony it would be at least strange...

[ashhad1]

lol u read housewife forums ??? (unless ur a wife)
Its true rubra queens do get out of the nest to feed but i really want rubras so badly!!!! and last year they didnt have a nuptial flight and i think the colony is dead or really lazy outside my house...
just had to get that out phew srry lol

[mzfckr]

lol no i dont read them, but i wanted to find any ant pages in my language, and first that come is how to fight with ants.

btw, i sometimes see my ~70 worker rubra colony's queen just walks out of the tube ALONE and go for a slow, peacful walk.after some minutes just as slowly go back in the tube.

[Spore]

The rubra colonie im my garden is VERY BIG!!!! they have about 1000-10,000 workers and their nest takes up halve of my garden!!! So they probaly are willing to take the risk of letting a few queens eat form the food i place down

[ashhad1]

u r lucky and unlucky,
lucky because u have a nice big ant community in ur garden
unlucky because theyl go into ur house and annoy u alot lol