Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I spent a couple of hours today and yesterday collecting ants and noticed for the first time since winter started the Rugosus are just starting to come above ground.
Very cool! They should be out en mass soon, I hope.
Is anyone else seeing any Pogo activity?
Cheers!
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Cables Home
2 Kings 6:15-17

Cable
No Pogos, but some Messor pergandei
Cable please email me, my comp was stolen in a burglary a couple weeks ago and I am trying to rebuild my address book, Lester if you see this can you also drop me a note at myrmecophile@armyants.org
Many thanks
Gordon

Hi!

I live in Apple Valley, CA,
not far from a certain horned lizard researcher.
The "rough harvesters" Pogonomyrmex? are beginning to appear
all over my area, but my HLs aren't awake yet, but soon.
also ants called "little Black Ants" Monomorium minimum?
are starting to peer out of their nests.
Thought I'd share that with you.

Herpetologically,
Phil Clevinger

I to am in Apple Valley, so far the only ants I have seen out here are Messor pergandei, a large shint black harvestor and Solenopsis xyloni, the common California Fire Ant. All Pogo colonies I have seen are still tightly closed up.

I am not far west of you guys. I just got back from a collecting trip and found that almost all the Rugosus holes had a dozen or so ants at the mouth and were carrying in food.
Man, its so much easier when they present themselves.
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Cables Home
2 Kings 6:15-17

Even more ants out today. Are you seeing many yet Gordon?

Sure is nice to have things turning green and getting warm again!
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Cables Home
2 Kings 6:15-17

Nothing much yet, but if the weekend stays warm I expect things will start happening here as well.

Hi!

Cool to hear from a fellow Apple Valley person.
I thought I was pretty much alone as far
as herpers go here. Glad I was wrong. =)
Well, look forward to chatting with you.

-Phil Clevinger

Hey,
I have had great success at getting rugosus by my house recently, and now have enough ants that I wont have to order any more. Although some ants come above ground, I use the "chimp" tecnique to fish them out of their nests with a small stick or twig. I get tons this way. Happy Herping

Hey!

I remember the first HL I had back in the day.
I didn't know how on earth I was supposed to get ants for
him if they weren't above the ground,
and as if on cue, the national geographic documentary
on chimps came on, and voila! A safe means of extracting ants
had been discovered. I've been fishing 'em out ever since.
Monkey see, monkey do, eh? LOL Though I will add that sometimes the ants mob me..... which is kinda funny, but at the same time unnerving. Oh well. I'll see ya'll later.

Yours,
Phil Clevinger

I will tell you I have had the same experience with the ants mobbing me. It is kind of fun, and a challenge not to get any ants on you and yet get ants for your lizard. I am having fun getting ants so far, and unlike other lizards am having lots of fun with my HL.