9 replies to this topic

[GiannisF77]

Hey guys!

 

I hope everyone had a fruitful summer so far, with a lot of catches. Please help me out with this one. I've done some reasearch, but despite the fact that it is a quite recognisable ant, I didn't find any info. I really hope you can help me out! So here is the info:

 

1. Location of collection: Village of Kassandria,Chalkidiki, Nothern Greece

2. Date of collection: Saturday 10th of August 2019.

3. Habitat of collection: My attic (wood/concrete environment)
4. Length : 1.5 mm (+- 1)
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: A brownish red with a black gaster. Gaster has 3 white dots on it in a symmetrical triangular pattern pointing towards the head. Black little spot where head connects to the body (can't say it has a neck hahahah).
6. Distinguishing characteristics: I don't see a petiole, and also I can't find the wing scars, though it has some darker little spots where those should be... I hope its a queen though, it definetly has the right shape and size.
7. Anything else distinctive: It moves kind of franticly, especialy the antennas on the head. It chewed HARD on the cotton. It even managed to escape! I used foil and rubber instead but it chews those too! I mean, it should settle down, right? It is a standard test tube set up, placed in a dark quiet place, with water and all... I caught two more of the exact same description a couple of weeks back, but they died after constantly chewing on whatever seal I had on the tube...
8. Nest description: Can't find the nest, but I have seen worker ant trails in my attic with the same colours, but without the pattern.

9. Nuptial flight time and date: Unknown... I don't even think there could be a nuptial flight in here... Id notice...

10 .Pictures: https://imgur.com/a/KiGC9vC

 

Please guys this is an emergency, I suspect they are killing themselves but chewing on the cotton!

 

Thanks in advance for your time guys!

Edited by GiannisF77, August 11 2019 - 11:59 PM.

[FSTP]

Not an ant at all

Well perhaps in name only. Its a Velvet ant. AKA, a wingless solitary wasp.

[GiannisF77]

Wow thanks! Even found matching photos! But can they be kept or is that not possible at all?

[ponerinecat]

Wow thanks! Even found matching photos! But can they be kept or is that not possible at all?

Can be kept, they just drink sugary liquids. Their lifespan is not that long, though.

[gcsnelling]

Not likely this is T. vagans which is a North American species.

Edited by gcsnelling, August 11 2019 - 11:27 AM.

[GiannisF77]

Wow thanks! Even found matching photos! But can they be kept or is that not possible at all?

Can be kept, they just drink sugary liquids. Their lifespan is not that long, though.

Ishouldnt expect any eggs, should I?

[GiannisF77]

Not likely this is T. vagans which is a North American species.

Oh, ok, I went through a lot of pics and it looked identical to me... shouldn't be that specific I guess...

[ponerinecat]

 

 

Wow thanks! Even found matching photos! But can they be kept or is that not possible at all?

Can be kept, they just drink sugary liquids. Their lifespan is not that long, though.

Ishouldnt expect any eggs, should I?

 

They are actually parasites, so unless she's mated and you have a host nest of bees, wasps, or ants of the correct species, no.

[FSTP]

its hard to see from the pictures but I'm thinking it looks more like Mutilla europaea not T. vagans

[MadDog]

Just a fun little side note... In the Southern USA, we call them cow ants... Reason being is that the sting is rumored to be strong enough to take down a cow. Not true, but man do they hurt! I was stung by one when I was about 5 or 6 and remember it vividly to this day!