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Sydney Australia 8mm Rhytidoponera Queen or Drone? ID help

sydney rhytidoponera queen australia ant queen

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#1 Offline antaioli - Posted October 8 2017 - 8:44 PM

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1. Location (on a map) of collection: Near Sydney Australia
2. Date of collection: 9 October 2017. 30 degrees c. light rain the day before
3. Habitat of collection: Rock wall next to grass lawn. Close proximity to a Rhytidoponera sp. nest.
4. Length (from head to gaster): 8mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Black with green metallic
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Green metallic sheen
7. Distinguishing behavior: Has trouble walking on plastic test tube
8. Nest description:  Small (4-5cm diameter) mounds of grey coloured dirt/rocks

9. Nuptial flight time and date: Did not witness a flight, so not sure if there was one.

 

Hello! I'm looking for help in determining if this is a Rhytidoponera sp. queen or drone? Wings still in tact, only saw this one running along a rock wall next to the lawn.

Thanks for looking!

EDIT: It has shed its wings from one side, leaving the other side still on.

 

V927IG1.jpg

X7znU4V.jpg

FB0SgvU.jpg


Edited by antaioli, October 8 2017 - 11:29 PM.


#2 Offline T.C. - Posted October 8 2017 - 9:00 PM

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Oh, w...www.. wait! Is this a proper ID thread request!?!? Let me get my glasses!



Seriously great pictures. Glad to see anting in Australia is beginning again. This is a queen.


Edited by T.C., October 9 2017 - 7:13 AM.

“If I am killed for simply living, let death be kinder than man.” -Althea Davis

#3 Offline Mettcollsuss - Posted October 9 2017 - 5:25 AM

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Looks like a queen to me.



#4 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted October 9 2017 - 8:04 AM

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100% a queen. Be careful, though. She might actually be a dspdrew in disguise, trying to test your knowledge of the post rules.


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Hawaiiant (Ben)

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#5 Offline JackPearl - Posted October 9 2017 - 12:01 PM

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Defo a queen, congratulations.

#6 Offline antaioli - Posted October 9 2017 - 12:18 PM

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How exciting! I've heard it's rare to find queens for these guys. She has now dropped all her wings as well.

Thanks for the fast responses as always, I love this forum :)


Edited by antaioli, October 9 2017 - 12:26 PM.

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#7 Offline antaioli - Posted October 10 2017 - 4:30 PM

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She is in a new setup. This will allow me to feed her easily, plus the sand will be easy to walk on. This is my first semi-claustral queen.  
She can only access the middle 4 cells for now, I can flip the little plastic walls to put the hole on the floor and allow access to the other cells.
One of the tubes is blocked, the other has a water test tube.
The container is kept dark inside a cardboard box.
Does this look like a suitable setup for her?
gwaqPw3.jpg
OFyeofq.jpg

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#8 Offline Connectimyrmex - Posted October 10 2017 - 4:44 PM

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Looks great! I've been using something similar for my Myrmica queen.


Hawaiiant (Ben)

Keeper of
Miniature Labradoodle
Baby Wolf Spider
Mud Dauber wasp larvae
Ochetellus Glaber
Solenopsis Geminata
Brachymyrmex Obscurior
Cardiocondyla Emeryi
Tetramorium Bicarinatum
Plagiolepis Alluaudi
Anoplolepis Gracilipes
Technomyrmex Difficilis
Pheidole Megacephala
Aholehole fish
Cowrie snail
Sea Fan Worm
100+ sea squirts
Tree seedlings
Ghost Crab
Day Gecko
Small Fat Centipede
Endemic Lacewing larva
Vernal Pool shrimps





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