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15 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Civz - Posted April 16 2017 - 8:20 AM

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I was exploring the nature park in town for signs of queen activity when i came across what looked like ant hills or claustral chambers. On close inspection i found that they WERE tiny ant hills, with i can only describe as Mite-Sized ants.. so small i was not able to collect them or photograph them..  By far the smallest species i have ever seen.  I live in norther California, they were founs in the woods, nesting in the ground in red dirt on the walking paths.. Ill try to find my way there again today for a while an retrieve some images of the mound.  Thanks in advance for any help friends!

 

Happy Anting =)


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#2 Offline ctantkeeper - Posted April 16 2017 - 8:40 AM

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Monomorium minimum or Monomorium emarginatum perhaps? 



#3 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted April 16 2017 - 12:34 PM

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Thief ant Solenopsis and Brachymyrmex are the smallest common ants in North America. Strumigenys can also be quite small.


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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.

 

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Black lives still matter.


#4 Offline VoidElecent - Posted April 16 2017 - 3:01 PM

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Based on what I've seen, these are some common species who tend to house particularly small workers:

  • Monomorium minimum
  • Nylanderia sp.
  • Brachymyrmex sp.
  • Solenopsis molesta
  • Pheidole sp. (Small minors and larger majors)
  • Vollenhovia emeryi

You probably won't find Vollenhovia in California, but they are small indeed. If you would like to ID these ants and don't have a picture, you could always just start by listing their habitat, coloration and length as accurately as you can. I know if it were me, I wouldn't sleep until I got a good ID; little ants are the coolest to me by far.



#5 Offline Salmon - Posted April 17 2017 - 8:16 AM

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If they were a translucent amber color and moved slowly, they were probably Solenopsis molesta or a similar small Solenopsis. If they were slow moving and a shiny black color they were Monomorium.

#6 Offline sgheaton - Posted April 17 2017 - 8:21 AM

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Solenopsis Molesta, thief/grease ant, can be super tiny. I've described them like fuzzy, moving blankets. 

While I know there is a colony, somehow, in my yard... haven't been able to get another queen. Did last year but had her die on me..


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#7 Offline Loops117 - Posted April 17 2017 - 9:57 AM

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Are they orange and sting? Wasmannia auropunctata are that tiny. Not sure if they're in northern cali though.



#8 Offline Civz - Posted April 17 2017 - 11:23 AM

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they were REALLY hard to see and i didn't have my gem loupe with me at the time.. they were honestly the smallest and i have ever seen. i thought they were mites until i investigated one on a leaf, but from what i could tell they were a dark grey or a black. I'm trying to find time to go back and get pics but the rains just started in again so ill have to wait xD



#9 Offline Loops117 - Posted April 17 2017 - 11:28 AM

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When i found some W.auropunctata, i had no clue that i was even looking at ants. The area that a few hundred took up was roughly the area of a quarter. Upon first inspection, it looked like sand was just melting away until i used my phone for a closer view. Was an awesome site to see.



#10 Offline sgheaton - Posted April 17 2017 - 12:32 PM

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I was digging this weekend and pulled out a glob of dirt. I thought it was dirt. The ants were so tiny and so...dispersed amongst this..dirt pile. I was severely baffled. Couldn't really get a picture. 

 

JUST like Loops said, it was...like....sand melting. Moving. It looked..fuzzy. The egg piles gave away that I was looking at ants but they were so tiny. 


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#11 Offline gcsnelling - Posted April 17 2017 - 2:57 PM

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Not Wasmania, they .would only be a greenhouse pest. Sounds most likely Brachymyrmex patagonicus.



#12 Offline Civz - Posted April 21 2017 - 12:04 PM

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UPDATE! i have a pic, found on walking trail in forrested area. just about 1mm long. all black! 

http://imgur.com/JJE0p4l



#13 Offline ctantkeeper - Posted April 21 2017 - 2:23 PM

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UPDATE! i have a pic, found on walking trail in forrested area. just about 1mm long. all black! 

http://imgur.com/JJE0p4l

 

Probably Monomorium of some sort.



#14 Offline Nathant2131 - Posted April 21 2017 - 2:32 PM

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UPDATE! i have a pic, found on walking trail in forrested area. just about 1mm long. all black! 

http://imgur.com/JJE0p4l

 

Probably Monomorium of some sort.

 

I agree. The pedicel details looks very much like Monomorium.



#15 Offline Canadian anter - Posted April 21 2017 - 5:04 PM

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Monomorium
Visit us at www.canada-ant-colony.com !

#16 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted April 21 2017 - 7:37 PM

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I was thinking Solenopsis. This reminds me of Solenopsis Papuana.

Monomorium was always a big ant for me. My first ants were Brachymyrmex and Ochetellus, thus making me used to small ants.


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