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What ants are dominant in your area?


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30 replies to this topic

#1 Offline cpman - Posted April 7 2015 - 4:48 PM

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I've been wondering about what sorts of ants are seen most frequently in which places in the US and in the world.

So, what three genera of ants do you see most frequently, and where do you see them?

 

At least in the part of Austin I'm in, over 70% of the ants I see are either Camponotus, Crematogaster, or Pheidole.

I also see Brachymyrmex, Pseudomyrmex, and Solenopsis fairly often, but the vast majority of what I see are Camponotus and Pheidole.

 

 

EDIT:

Also, in another part of Austin about 8 miles away from my house, the dominant genera are Crematogaster, Forelius, and Solenopsis. I see Pseudomyrmex and Camponotus occasionally there.


Edited by cpman, April 7 2015 - 4:53 PM.


#2 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted April 7 2015 - 5:05 PM

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The ants dominate in my area are 2 species: Formica cf. aserva, and Lasius neoniger



#3 Offline AntTeen804 - Posted April 7 2015 - 5:15 PM

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A small pheidole sp. monomorium minimum aphaenogaster sp. camponotus p. Tetramorium e. And tapinoma sessile

If you ain't got a dream, you ain't got nothing.


#4 Offline AntLover101 - Posted April 7 2015 - 5:16 PM

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I live in Pennsylvania and the species that I see are Camponotus and Formica
I wanna get my hands on some Campontus Pennsylvanicus or Ponera Pennsylvanica Queens!:D

#5 Offline AntTeen804 - Posted April 7 2015 - 5:19 PM

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A small pheidole sp. monomorium minimum aphaenogaster sp. camponotus p. Tetramorium e. And tapinoma sessile

I see them EVERWHERE here in Chesterfield Virginia

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#6 Offline Ants4fun - Posted April 7 2015 - 6:12 PM

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The clearly most common ant is Lasius cf. Neoniger. You can barely go past a sidewalk without one of their nests. The second most common ant is probably Formica cf. Podzolica (Really want a colony of Formica! Even though they are really common, they don't really seem to be a beginner species). The are wondering around near every driveway. The third most common is probably Camponotus. BTW this is in South Eastern South Dakota.


Edited by Ants4fun, April 8 2015 - 5:47 AM.


#7 Offline Foogoo - Posted April 7 2015 - 6:40 PM

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eSZRzas.jpg

 

And Argentines :facepalm:


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Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta


#8 Offline Vendayn - Posted April 7 2015 - 6:42 PM

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Argentine ants, but they've mostly been driven off inside the complex by...

 

Brachymyrmex patagonicus, which spread a lot over the past year.

 

Some type of Tetramorium also dominates in some parts of the complex.

 

I've attempted to introduce Dorymyrmex bicolor (by accident really) inside the complex too. Don't know how that will work out.

 

And...that is about it inside the actual complex.

 

Outside the complex, Solenopsis invicta are spreading pretty quickly. And they've started appearing inside the complex too.

 

Otherwise its mostly Argentine ants, which like I said...are pretty quickly losing their power in the area.



#9 Offline Crystals - Posted April 7 2015 - 6:48 PM

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In northern Alberta, Canada I mostly have Formica.  You see their dirt mounds on everyone's lawn, often 5-10+ nests per 30x30 foot lawn.

In the forest, there are tonnes of signs of Camponotus - and a huge flight in spring.  But they are mostly nocturnal and you rarely see them during the day.

In the few sandy areas around you see the small domes of Lasius neoniger - and around flight time you see queens occasionally swarming out beside a piece of sidewalk.  Other than that, you rarely see them.

Some Myrmica in rocky locations, and in some wooded areas.  Always small colonies with under 200 workers.

 

But mostly Formica.  They seem to enjoy urban life and nicely cut grass.

 

If you look hard and in the right habitat you can occasionally find other species.


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#10 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted April 7 2015 - 7:15 PM

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Nylanderia vividula and Dorymyrmex insanus, with the occasional Crematogaster sp. or Solenopsis molesta colony.



#11 Offline Michaelofvancouver - Posted April 7 2015 - 7:41 PM

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Lasius are EVERYWHERE! They are by far the most common genus, at least in my area of Vancoucer, with a distant second going to Formica fusca.


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#12 Offline dspdrew - Posted April 7 2015 - 8:21 PM

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Argentine ants.



#13 Offline ToeNhi - Posted April 7 2015 - 8:40 PM

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Tetramorium caespitum.

-ToeNhi


#14 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted April 7 2015 - 10:48 PM

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Tetramorium caespitum.

Jealous. :(



#15 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted April 8 2015 - 5:54 AM

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Tetramorium caespitum.

Jealous. :(

 

Haha, if you travel up by my house, you would notice my whole front yard is literally every step you take covered with them! I would have added them as one of my dominant ants but they don't seem to be aggressive toward other ants so I don't think they are bad just very reproductive.



#16 Offline ToeNhi - Posted April 8 2015 - 10:36 PM

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Tetramorium caespitum.

Jealous. :(

Hahaha, I'm jealous that you have Solenopsis invicta down there. I guess it's not uncommon in this hobby to want what we don't have.

Greg if you ever make it up this way, let me know. I'll give you one of my Tetramorium caespitum colonies.
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-ToeNhi


#17 Offline BugFinder - Posted April 8 2015 - 10:53 PM

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I'm still hoping to get together and go anting with you ToeNhi.


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#18 Offline Trailandstreet - Posted April 9 2015 - 3:04 AM

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A very dominant ant here in Austria and also Bavaria is of course Lasius niger, of course in more urban structures. An also very domanant ant is Formica cunicularia here. It is all around here especially on the lawn near the parking places.

Lasius cf flavus is very common ant on green areas, but seldom seen cause of its subterrainious lifestyle ;)

Myrmica (rubra and of course other near relatives) are found here on most green areas oder small woods.

In bigger woods you can find Formica poyctena or rufa and often Lasius fuliginosus.

The bigger Camponotus ligniperdus are also here, but not so easy to find, as well as the Temnothorax and Leptothorax sp.


Edited by Trailandstreet, April 9 2015 - 3:04 AM.

:hi: Franz

if you find any mistakes, it's my autocorrection. it doesn't speak english.


#19 Offline Mercutia - Posted April 9 2015 - 5:50 AM

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Tetramorium sp. E and Formica subsericea seem to be most prevalent in my neighborhood. Followed closely behind by Prenolepis imparis, Camponotus pennsylvanicus, and Camponotus novaeboracensis.



#20 Offline Myrmicinae - Posted April 9 2015 - 7:17 AM

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For Fort Collins, CO suburban areas, in order of apparent abundance:

  • Tetramorium caespitum (or sp. E)
  • Lasius neoniger
  • Solenopsis molesta

.

Natural areas are much more difficult to judge, considering the sheer number of species present there.  However, my guess would be:

  • Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
  • Dorymyrmex insanus
  • Solenopsis molesta

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Pheidole ceres
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