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Zeedman

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How might it be possible that there were so few carpenter ants around here this year? I had no idea that their population might run in cycles.
Maybe all of yours flew here this year. ;)

They are a perennial pest for me. There is a permanent nest inside a large box elder in my front yard, from which I suspect they keep spreading. Had I not accidentally discovered the hundreds of winged queens in my wood pile awaiting the Spring, they could have been a major problem next year. I'm concerned that there may be more colonies in my wood piles, still undiscovered... which discourages me from bringing a lot of wood inside, unless thoroughly inspected.

About every other year, carpenter ants appear in the house... probably queens spreading out from the main nest. I can usually locate their entry point by following their trails, and baiting that spot kills the nest. This usually happens in early Summer. However, carpenter ants have started showing up in the house now - which tells me that they are not coming in from outdoors. :ep DW & I are killing 10-15 ants a day, and had to move the kitchen garbage can because the ants had located it. I suspect they have started a nest beneath the front entryway, but have been unable to find their entry point, and baiting hasn't yet been effective. The ants are moving slowly, they may be starving... so if we can prevent them from finding a food source, the nest may die. If not, this may be the first time we call an exterminator, because we can't risk allowing carpenter ants to build a nest in the foundation.
 

valley ranch

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1949

Jan, 11, 1949, was the most authentic snowstorm the area has ever seen. Four to six inches of snow blanketed San Pedro and the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and stayed on the ground, much to the delight of local residents.

We drove up in uncle Joes 1946 Ford sedan he bought with the cash he he received when leaving the Army , I filled brothers sailor cap with snow to bring home ```
 

valley ranch

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1607833350677.png



On Jan. 11, 1949, it snowed locally, as seen in this photo taken on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. (Photo courtesy of San Pedro Bay Historical Society)
 

flowerbug

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1949

Jan, 11, 1949, was the most authentic snowstorm the area has ever seen. Four to six inches of snow blanketed San Pedro and the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and stayed on the ground, much to the delight of local residents.

We drove up in uncle Joes 1946 Ford sedan he bought with the cash he he received when leaving the Army , I filled brothers sailor cap with snow to bring home ```

a family soggy (saga :) )...
 

Marie2020

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8c feels like 6 according to tonight's forecast. It's been raining on and of but we've had a lovely afternoon.

It feels a heck of a lot colder to me tonight. It's getting dark around 4pm, so our winter is upon us.
 
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