6 replies to this topic

[Nathant2131]

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Dracut, Massachusetts. Dracut-Lowell State Forest.
2. Date of collection:  8/30/17, during the day.
3. Habitat of collection: Dense forest
4. Length (from head to gaster): ~9 mm.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Bicolored; Black/gray/silver gaster, red petiole and mesosoma, and head. Head is a slightly darker shade. Legs are a combination of red and black.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Postpetiole absent; 
7. Distinguishing behavior: Fast and erratic; She was tough to catch.
8. Nest description: She was under a small rock alone besides one another queen of the same species; They might have been coexisting. However they were too fast and I could only catch one.

 

She looks like one of the temporary social parasites or slave raiders of Formica. Narrowing it down to species-group is good enough for me. I know Formica identification is not easy.

 

 

 

 

I can get better pictures if needed.

[LC3]

Formica aserva perhaps?

[Nathant2131]

Ok let's do some narrowing as to what species-group this is:

 

exsecta group (F. exsectoides, F. ulkei) - It's not them, as this species-group has a distinctive concave posterior head margin - meaning their heads are flat.

 

fusca group (F. argentea, F. subsericea, F. glacialis, F. podzolica, F. subaenescens, F. neorufibarbis, F. hewitti) - only immediate possibility for this group is F. neorufibarbis, as it's the only bicolored (not uniformly silver/black/dark brown) one around here. However they are characterized with black heads and a darker red (image)

 

neogagates group (F. neogagates, F. lasioides) - Queens are uniformly brown. Nada.

 

pallidefulva group (F. dolosa, F. pallidefulva, F. incerta) - These species do not reside in deep forest (rather open areas like suburban lawns) and are not as bicolored as this queen.

 

rufa / microgyna groups (Temporary social parasites) (rufa: F. integra, F. cf. fossaceps, F. obscuriventris, F. dakotensis, F. knighti, F. reflexa. microgyna: F. querquetulana, F. impexa, F. nepticula, F. morsei, F. difficulis, F. dirksi) - A possible candidate.

 

sanguinea group (Slave-makers) (F. rubicunda, F. creightoni, F. aserva, F. pergandei, F. subintegra) - I think this group is most likely. One, the forest I found the queen in is always filled with raids going on. Second, the head is very very similar to this group; Slightly darker than the mesosoma and petiole, unlike the rufa / microgyna groups in which their heads are the same color as their mesosomas. So I think LC3 was spot on with the species group, and I think species. All the other species I read about reside in open habitats, while F. aserva nailed exactly where I found her; deep forest.

 

Well if my and LC3's ID is correct (which I'm still slightly iffy on as I did not use any valid morphological characters that would be included in a key) I'm happy, as I don't want to get into the trouble of stealin' some pupae if she was a temporary social parasite. Hope she survives well under my care. Making her a test tube setup in a few minutes.

 

ID just so I can "best answer" it: Formica cf. aserva, or something in the sanguinea group. Slight possibility of rufa / microgyna group.

[Batspiderfish]

I would guess Formica pergandei, based on the deep clypeal notch and the anterior shape of the petiolar scale; Formica aserva has a flat, fan-shaped scale. Being able to see fine details like hair coverage would be important to confirming an identity.

The exsectiodes group has a concave posterior head margin, meaning that the top of their heads are not flat. The clypeal notch disqualifies her from the rufa group, and microgyna queens are closer to half that size (and often pale).

[Nathant2131]

I would guess Formica pergandei, based on the deep clypeal notch and the anterior shape of the petiolar scale; Formica aserva has a flat, fan-shaped scale. Being able to see fine details like hair coverage would be important to confirming an identity.
The exsectiodes group has a concave posterior head margin, meaning that the top of their heads are not flat. The clypeal notch disqualifies her from the rufa group, and microgyna queens are closer to half that size (and often pale).

Ok thanks Bat! I did know what concave meant, but I just wrote flat as a brain fart. I'll get better pictures soon. She's in her test tube setup right now and looking healthy.

[Diesel]

Kinda looks like allegheny mound ant

[Nathant2131]

She died a bit back. I'll be able to get better pictures since I still have the dead specimen.