Post Arcw3QLPkKsxeXV7w0 by jericevans@mastodon.online
(DIR) More posts by jericevans@mastodon.online
(DIR) Post #ArcoFToLsqaSFLH3nk by jericevans@mastodon.online
2025-03-01T20:48:34Z
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@futurebird while cycling this morning, I stopped on a bridge in a wooded area, and noticed these guys. The video doesn't do it justice, there were *so* many, the line stretched across the entire bridge. Most of them were carrying these pieces of leaves (many times their size). So industrious!
(DIR) Post #ArcoFaDk3MSg7pCQD2 by jericevans@mastodon.online
2025-03-01T22:45:20Z
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@futurebird these I guess? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafcutter_ant
(DIR) Post #ArcoOauwpcZmtPho1Y by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-03-01T22:47:47Z
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@jericevans There are a few species that live in the US in southwest mostly, those that live near me in NY state don't collect green leaves, these girls have a secret underground fungus farm and they need the leaves to make compost to grow the fungi they eat.
(DIR) Post #ArcpK37AfSpcqoorbc by jericevans@mastodon.online
2025-03-01T22:58:06Z
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@futurebird This was just west of San Antonio TX, so southwest(ish) I guess. I've no idea where this fungus farm would have been, these were on the middle of a small concrete bridge crossing a river. Given the line of ants extending in both directions though, it must be massive.
(DIR) Post #ArcpZMZKcUEjWyIFkm by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-03-01T23:00:56Z
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@jericevans Probably Acromyrmex I think. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/50162-Acromyrmex
(DIR) Post #Arcw3PEds1sGDFKCjw by CStamp@mastodon.social
2025-03-01T22:49:18Z
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@jericevans Very cool to have taken the time to observe this. :) @futurebird
(DIR) Post #Arcw3QLPkKsxeXV7w0 by jericevans@mastodon.online
2025-03-02T00:09:35Z
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@CStamp you know, to be honest, not that long ago I probably wouldn't have. Following @futurebird though has been a trip, her passion for them is contagious.
(DIR) Post #Arcw3ROdpp3quq1DbU by jericevans@mastodon.online
2025-03-02T00:11:25Z
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@CStamp except fire ants, I still do not like fire ants. 😳@futurebird
(DIR) Post #Arcw3SE2kiB5UG4Giu by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-03-02T00:13:31Z
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@jericevans @CStamp Fire ants don’t even like fire ants.
(DIR) Post #ArcyfXyG2V5KDbyZPM by CStamp@mastodon.social
2025-03-02T00:15:53Z
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@jericevans I used to raise eyebrows at folk who acted fearful around red ants because the red ants of my youth were harmless. Then fire ants moved into southern Ontario. They are aggressive & horrible. Their bites for me result in huge swelling & 10 days of pain. The US should be held responsible for the illegible immigrants from their country! ;) Climate change really sucks in many ways. I don't visit a local park anymore because of them & I wonder how they affect the critters. @futurebird
(DIR) Post #ArcyfYz0HDH9MDKgD2 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-03-02T00:42:54Z
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@CStamp @jericevans There are probably things a park could do to reduce their numbers. They are not very successful in their native range. It's not like they are super ants. They just thrive on disturbed soil, human construction, basically all the things we do to make it easy for them.
(DIR) Post #Arcywg6T3YfqMbz7eC by CStamp@mastodon.social
2025-03-02T00:45:57Z
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@futurebird @jericevans I think it may be too late here. :(The park I no longer visit has maintained paths, but the ants are not restricted to them. I was surprised to stop by a beaver pond, damp earth, away from the trails, and have my feet covered with the things. They are so aggressive.
(DIR) Post #ArczUmBAyMXf3ORjU0 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-03-02T00:52:09Z
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@CStamp @jericevans They can't be contained. But, they can settle into something more like the niche they live in their home range. There they are not numerous. They are opportunistic, nesting near storm-damaged trees, forest margins, places recently touched by fire. They are the "first ants in" and they can't dig packed soil or deal with real competition. The way we tend lawns, cut down trees, clear brush, and plow soil is a delight for these ants. Perennial native plants are their enemy.
(DIR) Post #ArczxIPqi8nH8suPoW by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-03-02T00:57:16Z
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@CStamp @jericevans Basically if they have taken over the park there is something they are doing to make that park a fire ant playground. When they were driving people crazy at my brother's college in FL it was because they were aerating the lawns to try to make the crabgrass look less like crabgrass and more like a Scottish fell trimmed by sheep. Something that makes no damn sense in a drained FL swamp.When they embraced the local plants in landscaping the fire ants receded.
(DIR) Post #ArczyzET0R4uDzOJ9M by jericevans@mastodon.online
2025-03-02T00:57:37Z
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@futurebird Interesting!@CStamp
(DIR) Post #Ard05ocAseNhK0jiKW by jericevans@mastodon.online
2025-03-02T00:52:26Z
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@CStamp I've never been stung just once. Once the first sting hits, there's always been 5-7 more (minimum) before I could get free of them. 🫠@futurebird
(DIR) Post #Ard05pQVrUeBq8HunA by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-03-02T00:58:50Z
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@jericevans @CStamp They are good at deterring large vertebrates from their prize: heaps of disturbed soil in direct sun. It's so precious to them I guess. Sucks that we are large vertebrates and that someone has made such lovely piles of soil for them.
(DIR) Post #Ard0qkGqqgObSZ8m6S by CStamp@mastodon.social
2025-03-02T01:07:19Z
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@futurebird @jericevans The park is mostly untouched. There are trails, then the rest is wild grasses, meadow, copses of trees & shrubs, a pond & culvert & drainage ditches, beaver dams & waterway. It's been designated a bird sanctuary, and while they have bird boxes for some species, it mostly wends around the top of a bluffs, and is a really important site during migration. I used to cut through wild areas but those are no safer than the trails. Here's the beaver dam:http://www.carolynstampeen.com/wp-content/VRs/BeaverDam/node1.html
(DIR) Post #Ard1Q7gBo8hqCCrTYu by CStamp@mastodon.social
2025-03-02T01:08:43Z
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@futurebird Last time I was there, the ants were swarming my feet on that landing page when I stood in place. I though it would be too wet for them. @jericevans
(DIR) Post #Ard1Q8kTpfjTVnsPtA by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-03-02T01:13:43Z
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@CStamp @jericevans OK that is odd. Although, they are well equipped to survive flooding. (If it's the ants I think they can raft on water) Is it this species:https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67598-Solenopsis-invicta/browse_photos
(DIR) Post #Ard1i6jG52fsSbsAe8 by CStamp@mastodon.social
2025-03-02T01:16:58Z
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@futurebird European Fire Ant (Myrmica rubra):https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/invasive-species/meet-the-species/invasive-insects/european-fire-ant/https://globalnews.ca/news/1421066/what-are-european-fire-ants-and-how-to-get-rid-of-them/ @jericevans
(DIR) Post #Ard28T4hcaipIITMvY by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-03-02T01:21:45Z
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@CStamp @jericevans Oh! Myrmica rubra. They can overwinter. But to be fair they aren't as annoying as Solenopsis. I'll need to read up more about them. "fire ants" can mean a few very different species.
(DIR) Post #Ard2RSOwLlGMhtzeNc by CStamp@mastodon.social
2025-03-02T01:25:07Z
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@futurebird @jericevans Yikes. Annoying isn't the word. Aggressive with extremely painful bites, and if the other species is worse, just extra yikes.
(DIR) Post #Ard3rTfGNLm26mbEwa by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-03-02T01:41:05Z
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@CStamp @jericevans I have not be bitten by Myrmica rubra. But my understanding is they aren't known for stinging? Lots of keepers in Europe have them as pets. You know if you see those ants again catch a few in a film canister and try to get a really good photo of them. They do sting but are supposed to be timid and the sting isn't "significant" but this could be wrong... or it's not Myrmica rubra.
(DIR) Post #ArdLxaqQOLZZHzt0iW by CStamp@mastodon.social
2025-03-02T05:03:51Z
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@futurebird @jericevans From that second article: "European fire ants set themselves apart from other ants because of their potent sting. They aren’t the only ant in Ontario to sting, but as Umphrey points out, they are quick to use their stinger while other ants rarely use them or have a sting so weak it’s hardly felt.The European Fire Ant will readily sting humans, livestock or pets – making them a problem in urban areas."My lived experience vouches for this.
(DIR) Post #Arncehrjhjk6Meg9Sa by springdiesel@spore.social
2025-03-07T03:58:01Z
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@futurebird @CStamp @jericevansAnd this applies to Solenopsis invicta? I have them. I'm also in permaculture school and am working on a school project to design for my land. If perennial native vegetation works against then, that would be awesome. I don't really want to use pesticides.
(DIR) Post #Aro9iRByw1QqIYXG3k by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-03-07T10:08:30Z
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@springdiesel @CStamp @jericevans Take a look at the inaturalist page for Solenopsis invicta. Look at their nest and the places where they are found. They like direct sun, water, and above all disturbed soil. A shady garden with hard packed clay soil is something they will struggle with. And these same conditions will attract ants that attack them. Learn to spot Dorymyrmex bureni, these non-stinging ants love to eat young fire ant queens and overlap with them in most places.
(DIR) Post #Aro9tvAVp9JYSBK8cS by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-03-07T10:10:35Z
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@springdiesel @CStamp @jericevans Dorymyrmex bureni likes sandy sidewalk cracks, sand, hot places, and ruining the day of fire ant colonies when they send out their alates. Where it isn't possible to make a garden fire ant proof it could be made to attract Dorymyrmex bureni more.
(DIR) Post #Arogp30sWlP5p46M9A by jericevans@mastodon.online
2025-03-07T16:19:25Z
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@futurebird @springdiesel @CStamp I was today years old when I found my favorite ant. 😍