12 replies to this topic

[jdsaunders1390]

I found this dealate on the sidewalk of an urban area (there are trees and grass in the vicinity) at 7:30 AM the day after a rainstorm. It has a reddish head and thorax with a darker gaster. It is 8-9 mm long with 2 nodules and zero spikes. This description makes me think of Solenopsis, though its head and gaster are wider than my Solenopsis invicta queens. I'll post the pictures in just a minute.

 

Edit: Typo

Edited by jdsaunders1390, May 2 2017 - 4:12 AM.

[jdsaunders1390]

Album: 20170502 Dealate

8 images

0 comments

[Batspiderfish]

Pheidole sp.

[jdsaunders1390]

The head shape made me think of Pheidole. Any idea on species?

[Alabama Anter]

Pheidole are hard to ID without good pictures.

[AnthonyP163]

Macro shots are most likely needed.

[Aaron567]

This looks like Pheidole obscurithorax we have here in northwest FL. They live in Gainesville, but your queen still may be something else. I'm not sure of what Pheidole species are in Gainesville.

Edited by Aaron567, May 3 2017 - 3:27 PM.

[Aaron567]

I just did more research and looked at the photo more.This is indeed a Pheidole obscurithorax queen. I have a 10 month old colony of these. I am surprised you found this queen at this time of the year, since I find that they usually fly only in June and July where I live. 

[jdsaunders1390]

I thought I would post an update on this one since I have a decent sized colony from her now. (Maybe a couple hundred workers? I'm bad at estimating.) Below are pictures of her workers and a major. Are you still thinking Pheidole obscurithorax? The majors are about 4.5 mm while the minors are about 3 mm.

 

 

Edit: Added measurements.

Edited by jdsaunders1390, October 9 2017 - 11:28 AM.

[Aaron567]

Yep, that would be obscurithorax. It's good that you got a colony of them going, I haven't had any successful obscurithorax queens this year but I still have my colony of them. When your colony gets larger they should start producing larger majors, up to 5.5-6mm.

[jdsaunders1390]

Cool! Thanks for the info. Mine do an interesting thing when I give them honey. The workers will grab pieces of sand and coat the outer surface of the honey drop. I used to think that maybe the sand got shifted around and covered it, but when I watch, I can see the workers bringing over grains of sand and placing them on top of the honey. Have you seen this?

[Aaron567]

Cool! Thanks for the info. Mine do an interesting thing when I give them honey. The workers will grab pieces of sand and coat the outer surface of the honey drop. I used to think that maybe the sand got shifted around and covered it, but when I watch, I can see the workers bringing over grains of sand and placing them on top of the honey. Have you seen this?

 

I have not seen this with my obscurithorax, but that is because I have never had loose sand in their setup. My other Pheidole species and my Camponotus do it though, and I am not sure why.

[Connectimyrmex]

Beautiful ants!
The honey covering behavior is very common amongst ants. If several ants find too much food to ingest, they cover up the food so rival colonies can not get to it.