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Ant ID

TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
in Problem solving
Evening!

What fresh hell is this? 



Rats in the shed. Moths in the loft. Bindweed coming at me from one neighbour; snowberry from the other. 

It’s a carpenter ant isn’t it? 

Anyone yay or nay my guess? 

Yours frazzled, 

J. 

Posts

  • Liz.SprLiz.Spr Posts: 31
    edited July 2021
    Its a queen ant minus its wings. 
    I have green thumbs and no aphids on my roses.
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Oh really @Liz.Spr ? 

    I’ve seen about 30 in the garden today. I assumed there’d be one queen deep in the nest and the rest were workers (like bees). 

    I did see one moving about with one wing so that kinda makes sense now. 

    Is it new queen season or something? 


  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    They mate in the air then drop their wings. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Well @lyn I never knew this. 

    Thank you. 

    Will they all make nests in the garden now? 


  • Fran IOMFran IOM Posts: 2,872
    The above would explain the phenomenon we had Thursday evening. The busy road covered in seagulls eating ants and not taking any notice of the traffic. A few run over and killed. Son brought an injured one home which also died shortly after. I believe elsewhere people had a similar situation. 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    This explains it all ... https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/when-why-winged-ants-swarm-nuptial-flight.html  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Fran IOMFran IOM Posts: 2,872
    That was a really interesting read. Thanks Dove  :)
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Thanks @Dovefromabove

    Nature is fascinating! 
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