I’m always happy to see Camponotus castaneus one of the more rare ants in New York City. At first I was disappointed to see two of them fighting each other, but I realized that meant that there must be at least *two* colonies living in close proximity, so when they have their nuptial flight, there is a chance that there will be mated queens! #ants #antsnyc #nycants
(Fighting for now... romeANTs later)
These photos are from one of the best ant watching spots in town. It's a wall along the side of a hilly park where they hardly ever mow the grass and the trees and shrubs are old and gnarled. There are lichen, mosses and at least 11 species of ants who like to come out on to the wall to forage and fight right at your eye level. No need to get a backache!
I gave them some fig. The Lasius neoniger found it first (they are always first, despite Lasius emarginatus being more numerous)
Gasp! You are from the Borg?
myrmepropagandist
Eph
Roy -- the dull one