Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Smyrna, DE 7-14-2019

queen id

Best Answer TennesseeAnts , July 15 2019 - 6:03 PM

They are both flawed. Both antmaps and antweb have incomplete databases. But what you have is Formica neogagates. Go to the full post


  • Please log in to reply
10 replies to this topic

#1 Offline gsparrow - Posted July 14 2019 - 5:07 PM

gsparrow

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
  • LocationSmyrna, Delaware

1.  Location of collection:  Kent Co., Delaware

2. Date of Collection:  7-12-2019

3. Habitat of Collection:  Driveway

4. Length:  10mm

5. Coloration:  Dark with lighter color in between the segments of the abdomen.

6. distinguishing characteriistics:  ?

7. anything else distictive:  ?

8. Nest description:  n/a

9. Nuptial flight time/date:  see following notes.

 

So I got back from camping the other day and was unpacking in the driveway and found this queen.  I don't know if she is local (from Kent County, Delaware) or if she hitch hiked from where I was camping (Carbon County, PA)????????  It just seems weird that she shows up when I have the camping gear dragged out of the car laying in the driveway.   

 

IMG 4025
IMG 4023

 



#2 Offline AnthonyP163 - Posted July 14 2019 - 6:27 PM

AnthonyP163

    Vendor

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 972 posts
  • LocationWaukesha, Wisconsin.

This is probably a Formica species from the pallidefulva group or the neogagates group. We need better, closer pictures from multiple angles to be sure.



Ant Keeping & Ethology Discord - 2000+ Members and growing

Statesideants.com - order live ants legally in the US

 


#3 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted July 15 2019 - 4:34 AM

TennesseeAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,920 posts
  • LocationNashville, Tennessee
Seems too small to be pallidefullva. My best guess would be Formica neogagates or lasioides.

#4 Offline gsparrow - Posted July 15 2019 - 12:10 PM

gsparrow

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
  • LocationSmyrna, Delaware

Here are some pics I just took.  These are the closest my camera can get but I tried to get different angles.

IMG 4026
IMG 4027
IMG 4029
IMG 4030
IMG 4031
IMG 4033
IMG 4036
IMG 4037
IMG 4041
IMG 4042

 


Edited by gsparrow, July 15 2019 - 12:11 PM.


#5 Offline gsparrow - Posted July 15 2019 - 1:20 PM

gsparrow

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
  • LocationSmyrna, Delaware

I checked on Antmaps.org and Formica neogagates is not listed in Delaware but is listed in PA so if that is what it is, then it somehow hitchhiked from camping.  Formica lasioides is not listed in PA or DE. And Formica pallidefulva is listed for both PA and DE. So, still not sure if I had a stow away or not.  Formica subsericea is listed for both PA and DE.


Edited by gsparrow, July 15 2019 - 1:23 PM.


#6 Offline gsparrow - Posted July 15 2019 - 5:28 PM

gsparrow

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
  • LocationSmyrna, Delaware

I also checked on AntWeb.  The list of Formica in PA is:  exsectoides, fusca, incerta, neogagates, obscuriventris, pallidefulva, pergandei, and rubicunda.  

The only formica species on AntWeb for Delaware is subsericea.

 

So, which is more accurate AntWeb or Antmaps??????



#7 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted July 15 2019 - 6:03 PM   Best Answer

TennesseeAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,920 posts
  • LocationNashville, Tennessee
They are both flawed. Both antmaps and antweb have incomplete databases. But what you have is Formica neogagates.
  • ANTdrew likes this

#8 Offline EthanNgo678 - Posted July 15 2019 - 6:43 PM

EthanNgo678

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 297 posts
  • LocationMarin, Ca

Formica neogagates is a very fun species to keep, I currently have a three queen colony with around hundred workers. They are very fun to watch when they hollow out their prey.


  • TennesseeAnts likes this

Plants r cool


#9 Offline gsparrow - Posted July 16 2019 - 4:55 AM

gsparrow

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
  • LocationSmyrna, Delaware

Thank you all !!!!!  I'm glad to see helpful, knowledgeable, experienced people on this site along with all of us newbies that are trying to learn!!!!!!



#10 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted July 16 2019 - 5:38 AM

TennesseeAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,920 posts
  • LocationNashville, Tennessee

Formica neogagates is a very fun species to keep, I currently have a three queen colony with around hundred workers. They are very fun to watch when they hollow out their prey.


I agree. I love their curiosity. When I lived in Washington, I made it a tradition to found a new colony every year. :)
  • EthanNgo678 likes this

#11 Offline gsparrow - Posted July 17 2019 - 4:00 AM

gsparrow

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
  • LocationSmyrna, Delaware

Thanks again for the advise.  I'm a newbie so what ever species I find is going to be fun. 

So far I have:

1 Formica neogagates (founding)

4 Pheidole bicarinata (founding) (2 of them seem to be doing good - not sure the other 2 are fertile)

9 Tetramorium immigrans (founding) (all are doing well and all were fertilized but I will be only keeping one in the end)

1 Aphaenogaster rudis (small colony in Mini Hearth) 

 

I had a Camponotus pennsylvanicus founding and she had laid about 10 eggs which hatched and were growing and then the queen died.  I don't know why.  I really wanted this species so hopefully I will find another queen next spring.







Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: queen id

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users