1968] 
Talbot — Flights of Polyergus 
47 
the Lawn Colony, recorded in 1961, yielded a total of 58 females 
and 814 males. The largest flight seen at this nest, August 18, 1961, 
liberated 17 females and 335 males. 
Polyergus flights were distinguished by several outstanding char- 
acteristics. They took place in early afternoon at very high tempera- 
tures. They required bright light and were delayed or prevented by 
any cloud that came over the nest. Gusts of wind stimulated flying. 
Males executed a kind of “dance” as they ran up and down grass 
blades and over and around each other before they seemed ready to 
fly. 
Time of day. Flights took place in the early afternoon and did not 
vary greatly in time of day. At the Lawn Colony males might come 
out and begin climbing grasses as early as 12:31 PM (E.S.T.) or 
as late as 2:10 PM, but the usual time was about 1 PM. Flying 
might begin anywhere from three to 60 minutes later, the mean 
time for 21 flights being 1:16 PM. The two other colonies had a 
slightly later time pattern. At the Hidden Valley nest alates began 
flying at about 1 145 PM and the 0-26 Colony was even later, with 
2 :Oi PM as its mean time. 
Temperature. All flights took place at high temperatures. On 
one occasion males began to climb grasses at 77°F*, and the first 
flew at 78°F; but for all other flights the temperature was 8o°F or 
more. Temperatures between 85 °F and 90°F were especially favor- 
able. Above 90° F ants climbed grasses quickly, and males were 
especially active in their “dance.” The Hidden Valley Colony had 
two flights at 96° F and 97°F; but at these high temperatures females 
could not run about on the ground as they usually did, and even on 
grasses they moved rapidly and flew quickly. Flights were not trig- 
gered by any certain temperature, for favorable temperatures were 
sometimes reached several hours before flights began. 
Light. Flights occurred when the sun was almost directly over- 
head; and direct, bright light seemed essential. Any light above 7,000 
foot-candles was favorable, and the Hidden Valley ants flew in the 
brightest light recorded (10,000 ft-c). Sparse flying could take place 
at light as low as 4,000 ft-c, and a few ants flew in even dimmer 
light. Cutting down of light by flickering shade of moving tree 
branches was tolerated rather well, but the more solid shade of 
clouds was not tolerated. Moving clouds could prevent or interrupt 
a flight. Although temperatures stayed between 87°F and 82°F on 
August 16, 1962, there was no flight because frequent fluffy white 
^Temperature recorded 10 inches above the ground. 
