15 replies to this topic

[BADANT]

Riverside, CA, USA
6/30/2019
 
Body:
1. Location of collection: Unknown, Riverside, CA, USA.

 

2. Date of collection: 6/9/2019, I have misplaced my notes on this specimen.
3. Habitat of collection: Dirt pathway is where I was looking that day.
4. Length: 7mm to 8mm
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Dark appearance to the naked eye. It looked orangish/red upon closer imaging.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Looks like 1 (spiked) petiole, from the side view. The 2^nd petiole appears to be part of the gaster, if I am distinguishing them properly. She has a very shinny and reflective gaster..
7. Anything else distinctive: Nothing that I have the skills to notice at this time.
8. Nest description: Unknown.

 

9. Nuptial flight time and date: Unknown.

 

https://flic.kr/p/2gofV78

https://flic.kr/p/2gogiwu

https://flic.kr/p/2gofV66

[AntPhycho]

It looks like Solenopsis xyloni or invicta.

[BADANT]

I hope these photos are better, and can help you decide between the two you have listed. Thank You

[BADANT]

I hope these photos are better, and can help you decide between the two you have listed. Thank You

[GooglyBlox]

That’s an invicta queen.

[BADANT]

Excellent, Thank you

[VoidElecent]

How did you rule out Solenopsis xyloni?

[Zeiss]

In your original post, the links appear to show a Solenopsis invicta queen.  S. invicta are a plague and should be killed on sight.

 

 

I hope these photos are better, and can help you decide between the two you have listed. Thank You

Here, you link two different queens (it appears to me).  One queen has a larger gaster and lighter coloration, while the other resembles the queen linked in your original post.  The lighter coloration leads me to think Solenopsis xyloni, while the other, with the smaller gaster, seems like Solenopsis invicta.

[GooglyBlox]

How did you rule out Solenopsis xyloni?

I could rule out Xyloni because he noted that it had a blackish color until he got a closer look. This trait is known for solenopsis invicta, as I have a colony of Xyloni and their queen is unmistakably red.

[nurbs]

S. xyloni have been flying since two weeks ago. I've seen hundreds of them. Most likely S. xyloni. 

 

Way too dry in Riverside for invicta to take hold. They thrive in very humid environments.

 

The second pictures do not show on my laptop, not sure if it's just my browser or something else.

Edited by nurbs, July 10 2019 - 1:38 PM.

[dspdrew]

S. invicta actually are all over the Riverside area, but this is most likely S. xyloni.

[gcsnelling]

From what I have seen of invicta range in Riverside county they are pretty much limited to areas with some artificial irrigation, things may be different now though.

[Zeiss]

S. xyloni have been flying since two weeks ago. I've seen hundreds of them. Most likely S. xyloni. 

 

Way too dry in Riverside for invicta to take hold. They thrive in very humid environments.

 

The second pictures do not show on my laptop, not sure if it's just my browser or something else.

We have Solenopsis invicta all over UCR and in the surrounding area.  Almost every ant I see are those.

[GooglyBlox]

Drew and Nurbs are right. It's a xyloni queen. Where you mentioned that it looked black threw me off, and the photos you sent later weren't loading on my phone. 

Edited by GooglyBlox, July 10 2019 - 4:34 PM.

[BADANT]

my bad for posting two pictures that look so different, I was trying to show the spike on it's petiole. I am taking note of the difficulties that I have been presenting you all in identifying ants from my pictures, and I am working to improve my skills.

[Zeiss]

my bad for posting two pictures that look so different, I was trying to show the spike on it's petiole. I am taking note of the difficulties that I have been presenting you all in identifying ants from my pictures, and I am working to improve my skills.

Consistent lighting really does help.  Another tip, if you are taking images with a mobile device, hold the camera about 4 inches away from the subject and try not to zoom.  The more you zoom, the worse the photo looks.

 

If it is the lighter color, then yes, it is S. xyloni.