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

April 15, 2017 Possible Queen Gainesville, FL

queen alate

  • Please log in to reply
14 replies to this topic

#1 Offline jdsaunders1390 - Posted April 15 2017 - 5:05 PM

jdsaunders1390

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 86 posts
  • LocationCentral Florida
Hey guys. I found this winged creature today on a sidewalk near a forested area in Gainesville Florida. It is 3 mm (1/8") without wings, uniform dark color. Anyway, I'm not conviced it is even a queen. Perhaps it is a drone, or maybe not even an ant? I did not want to toss it back out just in case it is a queen! I posted some pictures. It was tough to do because of its small size and quick movement. I slowed it down a couple of times in the fridge, but still tough.
(Side question: What is the size of the smallest ant species queen?)

#2 Offline jdsaunders1390 - Posted April 15 2017 - 5:06 PM

jdsaunders1390

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 86 posts
  • LocationCentral Florida
IMG 2954
Album: 20170415 Mystery Ant
10 images
0 comments



#3 Offline Runner12 - Posted April 15 2017 - 5:42 PM

Runner12

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 222 posts
Looks like a queen, possibly Trachymyrmex septentrionalis, need some closer pics though, might also be Cyphomyrmex rimosus

Edited by Runner12, April 15 2017 - 5:44 PM.


#4 Offline jdsaunders1390 - Posted April 15 2017 - 5:44 PM

jdsaunders1390

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 86 posts
  • LocationCentral Florida
Are those always red? The specimen I have is all black.

#5 Offline Runner12 - Posted April 15 2017 - 5:45 PM

Runner12

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 222 posts
Might be Cyphomyrmex then, couldn't tell the color 100% from the pic, try comparing it to them

#6 Offline jdsaunders1390 - Posted April 15 2017 - 6:07 PM

jdsaunders1390

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 86 posts
  • LocationCentral Florida
It does look similar. Looks like that species is semi-claustral and a fungus grower. That sounds tough...

#7 Offline Alabama Anter - Posted April 15 2017 - 6:25 PM

Alabama Anter

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,102 posts
  • LocationBoulder, Colorado

Idk looks like a wasp. Especially the anntenae.


YJK


#8 Offline Runner12 - Posted April 15 2017 - 6:41 PM

Runner12

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 222 posts
Yeah I've never had success with the fungus growers around here to be honest.

#9 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted April 15 2017 - 7:24 PM

Batspiderfish

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,614 posts

Cyphomyrmex minutus


  • Jonathan21700 likes this

If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

 

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

 

----

Black lives still matter.


#10 Offline jdsaunders1390 - Posted April 15 2017 - 7:43 PM

jdsaunders1390

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 86 posts
  • LocationCentral Florida
If it is a semi-claustral fungus grower, any advice?

#11 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted April 15 2017 - 8:35 PM

Batspiderfish

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,614 posts
There is not much free information on these fungus growers, but this topic may be of interest: http://www.formicult...nt-lab-colonies

Edited by Batspiderfish, April 15 2017 - 8:36 PM.

If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

 

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

 

----

Black lives still matter.


#12 Offline Vanko - Posted April 16 2017 - 1:07 AM

Vanko

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 90 posts
  • LocationPlovdiv, Bulgaria
Next time upload 2 good photos instead of 10 bad!
😛 🐜 😛

#13 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted April 16 2017 - 5:53 AM

Batspiderfish

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,614 posts

Next time upload 2 good photos instead of 10 bad!

 

Some people are just learning or don't have access to the right equipment.

 

Constructively, the photos are underexposed (the shutter speed was too fast and the white paper looks great, but the ant is way too dark). Choosing a different background might make things easier if the shutter speed is too difficult to control.


Edited by Batspiderfish, April 16 2017 - 5:59 AM.

  • Martialis, jdsaunders1390 and Hayashi like this

If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

 

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

 

----

Black lives still matter.


#14 Offline Vanko - Posted April 16 2017 - 11:14 PM

Vanko

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 90 posts
  • LocationPlovdiv, Bulgaria
Dude, you could have a camera for 200$ and still make better photos than someone with a camera for 2000$.
Don't you agree?
😛 🐜 😛

#15 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted April 17 2017 - 4:52 AM

Batspiderfish

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,614 posts

Dude, you could have a camera for 200$ and still make better photos than someone with a camera for 2000$.
Don't you agree?

 

Of course! Extension tubes and reversing/coupling rings are the greatest, but the issue with these photographs was so simple to explain that I did it with roughly the same effort. There are a lot of cheap and very effective alternatives to expensive equipment, but it still takes time and energy to understand them. I appreciate that a lot of people don't have a background in photography or $200 to drop on a camera body, flash, and/or a couple lenses that they might need at the exact time they wish to identify an ant.


If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

 

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

 

----

Black lives still matter.






Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: queen, alate

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users