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Strumigenys colony and Strumigenys queen/ Jasper Indiana


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#1 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted June 22 2019 - 6:02 AM

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Okay, I found this colony in a small hickory nut (actually, it was a half of a hickory nut, but it was filled in with sand). I’m pretty sure they are either S. rostrata or S. pilinasis. Sorry, these are the best pictures I can get:







This second ID is also Strumigenys. I think could be S. pilinasis or S. rostrata as well. I found her alone on June 19th. She’s just barely over a millimeter (I think), and she was found in a mulch pile wondering around:



Any guesstimating is appreciated, especially with the bad pictures! :D

Edited by CatsnAnts, June 22 2019 - 6:03 AM.

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#2 Offline PacificNorthWestern - Posted June 22 2019 - 6:29 AM

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would say they look more similar to Strumigenys ohioensis, but me trying to tell what Strumigenys  is which is like me playing spot the difference on insanity mode... I can't spot the difference btw.


Edited by PacificNorthWestern, June 22 2019 - 7:29 AM.


#3 Offline Martialis - Posted June 22 2019 - 6:32 AM

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Strumigenys are really hard to identify to the species level. Unfortunately, I'm not sure these are identifiable to that degree.


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#4 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted June 22 2019 - 7:31 AM

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Ya true, I think I’ll just call them Strumigenys sp. until I get them properly identified.
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#5 Offline Martialis - Posted June 22 2019 - 8:19 AM

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If you have a microscope or some other method of magnification, this key should prove helpful:

 

http://www.antwiki.o...s_(as_Pyramica)

 

Also, this is an excellent resource: https://www.antwiki....hological_Terms


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#6 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted June 22 2019 - 8:46 AM

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Wow, thanks! I do plan on investing in a microscope in the near future, so when that time comes, I’ll definitely be using those!

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#7 Offline PacificNorthWestern - Posted June 22 2019 - 9:03 AM

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make sure their nest is really moist and they have an ample amount of spring tails at all times



#8 Offline ponerinecat - Posted June 22 2019 - 9:41 AM

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what is it with strumigenys and hickory nuts. I need a tree


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#9 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted June 22 2019 - 12:29 PM

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what is it with strumigenys and hickory nuts. I need a tree

After ant dude said he found them in hickory nuts, I went looking for a tree. I figured out we had 5 along our private road going back into a woods. I’ve been going down there just about every day for 2 weeks looking in the hickory nuts (there’s tonssss, especially in the leaf litter) and I finally found a colony of these! I hate I though because I look really stupid when I’m looking because our neighbors drive by while I’m bent down in the leaf litter practically tripping over myself for for hickory nuts :lol:.

As for the humidity and springtails, I’ve made sure that they haven’t gone without humidity, and I gave them 7 springtails today. I’m also ordering a springtail culture for my these, my ponera, and my Myrmecina.

Edited by CatsnAnts, June 22 2019 - 3:26 PM.

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#10 Offline PacificNorthWestern - Posted June 22 2019 - 12:38 PM

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One time I was laying on the side of the road looking at tetramorium and my neighbor spotted me and came running outside, She asked if I was okay and told me she thought I was dead and almost called the police, it was embarrassing to say the least. Also what tree produces hickory nuts, I have seen very few hickory nuts up here in Washington if those were even hickory nuts. 

 

edit: spelling


Edited by PacificNorthWestern, June 22 2019 - 12:41 PM.


#11 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted June 22 2019 - 3:31 PM

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Hickory nuts look a lot like walnuts, but about 1/2 the size. In fact, they ARE basically miniature walnuts. Walnut trees have compound leaves (they look a lot like ferns) while hickory trees have compound leaves as well, but only 3-5 leaves per compound leaf. Pictures helped me when looking for them.

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#12 Offline PacificNorthWestern - Posted June 22 2019 - 5:00 PM

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Will walnuts work to as "ant nests", or just hickory nuts



#13 Offline CatsnAnts - Posted June 22 2019 - 5:27 PM

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Walnuts will work too, although if you are looking for cryptic ant species such as Strumigenys, hickory nuts are as big as they will go. I have found aphenogaster and Nylanderia in walnuts, so if that is what you are looking for, then go for it! :)

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#14 Offline PacificNorthWestern - Posted June 22 2019 - 6:04 PM

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we don't have strumgenys here so, doesn't seem like i'm missing much with walnuts(Also don't have nylanderia and aphenogaster is rare, at least where I live)



#15 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted June 22 2019 - 7:33 PM

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Hickory nuts are produced by hickory trees.... :lol: Hickory nuts are very smooth in texture and are more of an oval shape.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, June 22 2019 - 7:33 PM.





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