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Crematogaster ID request VA

Started By ANTdrew , Aug 8 2019 10:45 AM

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9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline ANTdrew - Posted August 8 2019 - 10:45 AM

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I have never really taken the time to positively ID my Crematogaster colony to the species level. I got some way better photos of them from another member I sold them to, so I thought I would post them and see if somebody could at least take a stab at it. My hunch is either lineolata or ashmeadi.

 

1. Location: Found at the Washington Sailing Marina along the banks of the Potomac River just outside Washington, DC

2. Date: 9-2-2018

3. Habitat an open park area with mature trees and open grassy areas along side the Potomac River

4. Length: Workers 3-4mm, Queen 6mm

5. Color: Jet black and shiny

6. Distinguishing characteristics: Really energetic and good at escaping :lol:

7. Distinguishing behavior: Feed heavily on protein, love escaping

8. Nest description: I couldn't find the actual nest the queens originated from

9. Nuptial flight time and date: 2:00pm September 2, 2018

 


"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#2 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted August 8 2019 - 12:05 PM

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Looks like mine. Mine are Crematogaster cerasi.
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#3 Offline ANTdrew - Posted August 8 2019 - 3:55 PM

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How did you ID yours as cerasi?
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#4 Offline Aaron567 - Posted August 8 2019 - 6:19 PM

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Either Crematogaster cerasi or lineolata. The propodeal spines on these ants are too long for C. ashmeadi which have very short, stubby spines. I never even attempt to separate cerasi and lineolata because they're so similar and are both extremely common relative to other Crematogaster in the east.


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#5 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted August 8 2019 - 6:31 PM

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How did you ID yours as cerasi?


Exactly what Aaron said lol.

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#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted August 9 2019 - 2:17 AM

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Thank you both! I guess a microscope would be needed to separate between cerasi and lineolata?
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#7 Offline ANTdrew - Posted August 9 2019 - 2:34 AM

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How did you ID yours as cerasi?

Exactly what Aaron said lol.
Sorry to be annoying, but how do you know yours aren’t lineolata? I’m wondering what one would actually look for.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#8 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 9 2019 - 6:46 AM

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The amount of erect hairs on the (mesosoma?). Basically, you need a microscope.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#9 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted August 9 2019 - 7:51 AM

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The most common Crematogaster of the two in my area is cerasi, so I went with that as my ID.

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#10 Offline Aaron567 - Posted August 9 2019 - 8:00 AM

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Basically if you look at them under a microscope cerasi will only have about 2-4 erect hairs on the pronotum (front of the mesosoma) and lineolata will have a lot more (10+) that usually cover both the pronotum and mesonotum.


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