Post B69PsPNE4H9sCK280m by wyatt_h_knott@mstdn.social
(DIR) More posts by wyatt_h_knott@mstdn.social
(DIR) Post #B69Nvwq1u7FWwl4AS0 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T10:06:10Z
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A Tale of Two ParksI don't get out of the city often during the school year, so I go anting in the local parks. I recently spent a couple of hours in an Upper East Side park and one in the South Bronx. In the Upper East Side park I found two species of ants:Lasius emarginatusTapinoma sessileIn the Bronx Park I found:Lasius emarginatusTapinoma sessileTetramorium immigransCamponotus pennsylvanicusCamponotus castaneusMonomorium carbonariumLasius neoniger1/
(DIR) Post #B69OBRqys81HTztzqy by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T10:08:58Z
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I'm concerned that in the coming years the Bronx park will be more like the one on the upper east, with only two species of ants, both invasive, one a house pest and the other a new outdoor species that seems to be destroying the population of Tetramorium immigrans (pavement ants) Now, Tetramorium immigrans is *also* invasive ... so what does it matter?It's the falling diversity that's alarming. What does the Bronx park have that the UES park lacks?It's nothing that costs money!2/
(DIR) Post #B69OQZpJVi1sYSKuTw by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T10:11:42Z
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I'm wondering about pest control measures. Could this be related to treating homes or outdoor spaces with insecticides or with insect growth inhibitors that function like insecticides? Could it be the practice of buying and planting annual flowers in cheap low grade potting soil?The UES park spends more money on maintaining the space for the public but this has lead to fewer ants. A failure in my book!You end up with only the most hearty and resistant species.
(DIR) Post #B69Od4SPS7CR1qa3sW by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T10:13:57Z
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The Bronx park has a natural advantage of massive rock outcroppings that can't be weeded, cut or planted and these are home to many creatures including some of the only snakes I've ever seen in NYC. (The delightful, harmless and native Storeria dekayi we are so lucky to have them!)4/4
(DIR) Post #B69OoSQ0hmm0Wqt79k by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T10:16:02Z
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When I was looking for ants in the UES park I got sick of seeing Lasius emarginatus. It was exciting to see Tapinoma sessile. That is messed up. No one should be so starved for ants they they are happy to see Tapinoma sessile. I thought I'd find Tetramorium immigrans on the upper east, but no! Not even one little colony.
(DIR) Post #B69P2BGBITYnMnpmU4 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T10:18:30Z
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The east side park has a big sign and a page on their website about improving bee diversity. That gives me a little hope. People aren't as excited about "more ants" as "more bees" but we can get to more ant diversity through the bees.
(DIR) Post #B69PIV2LXDo3Kx91Q8 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T10:21:23Z
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Do you ever wonder why you hardly ever see roaches in NYC parks? You might see them on the sidewalk in the hot days of summer, in the subway, in basements and restaurants... but not in parks. It's because they can't compete in a diverse outdoor ecology. The three species of pest roaches in NYC are adapted to indoor spaces, human food and very resistant to poisons. In the face of a park full of ants they falter and can't take over. This could all change. No ants? Guess who takes over.
(DIR) Post #B69PbBMEvRmZnzMGCO by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T10:24:49Z
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One thing that sucks about being "tuned in" to notice insects is I'm always the first person to notice if a shop or apartment has roaches. I spot their egg cases, their droppings and I recognize them at every size. "that's a beetle" (no it's not)Maybe I should go into pest control and make some big bucks. I'd be really good at it considering the nonsense I've heard from some "professionals."I just wish I could figure out what's the key difference between these parks!
(DIR) Post #B69PiAOgtY1YqyppdQ by BsCreativeLife@mstdn.social
2026-05-10T10:26:00Z
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@futurebird biodiversity is on the decline due to the inability to adapt to the changing climate & changing biodiversity of the lands. Without an array of native plants attracting native animals (incl. Insects) there's less to feed the ants as well as any other creature. I'm curious to know the range of habitats available & what chemicals they add to the land to maintain the "green perfection" look of a golf course. 1/
(DIR) Post #B69PkTTavjumbbEGdE by RogerBW@discordian.social
2026-05-10T10:26:25Z
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@futurebird "Why is your backback so big?" "Full of ant habitats. I'll leave one of them with you."
(DIR) Post #B69PsPNE4H9sCK280m by wyatt_h_knott@mstdn.social
2026-05-10T10:27:53Z
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@futurebird water sources? bakery nearby? tree density?
(DIR) Post #B69PuulMKnYq83W5eC by TheSecondVariation@graz.social
2026-05-10T10:28:20Z
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@futurebird Well statistically a beetle is a lot more likely given their abundance, so if you have no clue about anything and you see something with 6 legs, a beetle might be a good guess.
(DIR) Post #B69Q1yiK2jNqPTSqiu by promovicz@chaos.social
2026-05-10T10:29:37Z
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@futurebird We have this nice park around here with renaturated small woods, fenced-off preserve lawns and old railroad tracks, right next to a bunch of inner-city small gardens. The cared-for part seems overworked though. Parks are adjusting flora for weather/climate shifts, I think.
(DIR) Post #B69Q2kRea0ZSRg2DPE by davep@infosec.exchange
2026-05-10T10:29:47Z
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@futurebird Ants! You need to breed a type of ant that can be unleashed in apartments and destroy the interlopers before being called back to base so you can take them along to the next client.
(DIR) Post #B69QCgoIwqhq4JN0Ea by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T10:31:36Z
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@davep Army ants might work for that. Though people might take a look at the army ants and decide they can live with the roaches. (Also, this would simply drive the roaches to the next apartment over, I guess then you could go and charge them next if you are thinking like a capitalist.)
(DIR) Post #B69Rk8nY0kTMNiWxg8 by llewelly@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T10:48:51Z
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@futurebird tell them to get some Brown Recluses. Loxosceles *loooves* roaches. Almost as much as they love termites.
(DIR) Post #B69S6n0BDOoFRTEsIC by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T10:52:57Z
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@llewelly People think every single brown spider is a "brown recluse" and that if one looks at you you will instantly die. Spider fear is a real issue.
(DIR) Post #B69TPH4eFLM1sLhu2i by Da_Gut@dice.camp
2026-05-10T11:07:27Z
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@futurebird @llewelly Spider fear. In the early days of my relationship with my ex-wife, we went on a hike. We got lost.We were wearing headlamps. Dark comes. It’s a dry night. But there are little pin points of light all through the woods around us. Just little glints. Eventually, I comment on them. My ex tells me they are spider eyes reflecting light.I scoff. I investigate. She is right.Dozens of wolf spiders were all looking at our lost in the woods asses. Skeeved me right out.
(DIR) Post #B69VCltKYYsvb8ZyfQ by GoblinQuester@dice.camp
2026-05-10T11:27:35Z
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@futurebird Completely unrelated, I'm starting to take care of a garden (of a house out in the forest) that have been neglected for great many years ... and the ants are not happy. I repotted a large <something to be speciated when it put out a flower> and had a milliion (not really) of Lasius Niger crawling over my hands trying to bite me.I predict the ants will call a summit and try to evict me
(DIR) Post #B69W8ODMkDKaxfQPoW by InkySchwartz@mastodon.social
2026-05-10T11:38:00Z
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@futurebird This is probably it. Which makes me wonder about the viability of different parts of Central Park.
(DIR) Post #B69hkMuL9OpDPMq26a by twizzt@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T13:48:09Z
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@futurebird I almost always recognize the specialist wasps before I see the roaches directly. I often know a building has roaches before stepping a foot inside.
(DIR) Post #B69iGFxCXYoR6kNjXc by glecharles@gardenstate.social
2026-05-10T13:53:47Z
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@futurebird Oh.
(DIR) Post #B6A1uKr3dW9f1JKhPM by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-10T17:34:04Z
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@twizzt I haven't seen any wasps that specialize in roaches in NYC. Or maybe I have and don't know what to look for. Do they hang out in urban areas in temperate countries? (That would be very cool)
(DIR) Post #B6BNtwdE5bz22k2fia by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-11T09:15:11Z
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@glecharles You saw the alternate dark future of the parks for a moment, I see.
(DIR) Post #B6JxQKvfitg4CyH9sG by twizzt@sauropods.win
2026-05-15T12:30:55Z
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@futurebird https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=48&taxon_id=264674 Their eyes and abdomen are both very destinctive
(DIR) Post #B6Jxbmi4m8fhYPNKFs by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-05-15T12:33:01Z
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@twizzt Wow they are larger than I thought. I was thinking of one of those tiny wasps that lay eggs on some ants. I will keep my eye out for these.
(DIR) Post #B6MJePkp6X9DZ9t572 by twizzt@sauropods.win
2026-05-16T15:49:25Z
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@futurebird of all my delving into wasp hosts, I haven't studied any ant specialists. I'll have to look into these. I've read somewhat extensively on the phorids though.