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Queen ant


Best Answer Will230145 , February 9 2018 - 7:43 PM

YAAAAAAY! THIS IS MY DREAM SPECIES!!! Is there a care sheet on them? Go to the full post


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#1 Offline Will230145 - Posted February 9 2018 - 7:07 PM

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I found a queen ant a while ago but AntsCanada couldn’t get an ID, I couldn’t get a measurement but I should be able to get ont tommorow, THANKS :)

https://imgur.com/gallery/qmT6f

Edited by Will230145, February 9 2018 - 7:08 PM.


#2 Offline gcsnelling - Posted February 9 2018 - 7:15 PM

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I suspect we need a little more information.



#3 Offline Derpy - Posted February 9 2018 - 7:15 PM

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From the looks of it, it kinda looks like prenolepis. Can you try to get some clearer shots?

-1x Parasitic Formica Sp. Colony

-1x Pogonomymrex Californicus Colony

-1x Camponotus Hyatti Colony

 


#4 Offline T.C. - Posted February 9 2018 - 7:20 PM

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More info, until them I'm calling it lasius sp.
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" Whatever You Are, Be a Good One "


#5 Offline Will230145 - Posted February 9 2018 - 7:21 PM

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https://imgur.com/gallery/0iprz

I caught her at the end of August
Hope it helps!

Edited by Will230145, February 9 2018 - 7:22 PM.


#6 Offline Derpy - Posted February 9 2018 - 7:25 PM

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I agree with TC probably Lasuis, no Prenolepis Imparis queens fly that late.

-1x Parasitic Formica Sp. Colony

-1x Pogonomymrex Californicus Colony

-1x Camponotus Hyatti Colony

 


#7 Offline Will230145 - Posted February 9 2018 - 7:26 PM

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She is 9mm

#8 Offline T.C. - Posted February 9 2018 - 7:27 PM

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I'm guessing Lasius neoniger, but in all reality that's a shot in the dark. We have a template here for ID's. However where was this caught,? Region?

Edited by T.C., February 9 2018 - 7:27 PM.

" Whatever You Are, Be a Good One "


#9 Offline Will230145 - Posted February 9 2018 - 7:29 PM

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Oh, sorry, forgot about that, caught is US in Western Pennsylvania

#10 Offline Will230145 - Posted February 9 2018 - 7:41 PM

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I just read enlarged gaster by T.C., and my queen we are IDing did the EXACT thing, and looks the same as yours!

#11 Offline Derpy - Posted February 9 2018 - 7:42 PM

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So that’s means you have Lasuis Neoniger! Congrats
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-1x Parasitic Formica Sp. Colony

-1x Pogonomymrex Californicus Colony

-1x Camponotus Hyatti Colony

 


#12 Offline Will230145 - Posted February 9 2018 - 7:43 PM   Best Answer

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YAAAAAAY! THIS IS MY DREAM SPECIES!!! Is there a care sheet on them?
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#13 Offline Derpy - Posted February 9 2018 - 8:03 PM

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Lasuis are one of the easiest ant species to keep so the care should be general. You can check online if there is a specific care sheet.

-1x Parasitic Formica Sp. Colony

-1x Pogonomymrex Californicus Colony

-1x Camponotus Hyatti Colony

 


#14 Offline Mettcollsuss - Posted February 10 2018 - 4:11 AM

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She could also be Lasius flavus. The queens of the two species are extremely similar.

 

I have one that looks identical to yours. I can't pin down a positive ID for her, but if you want to know for sure, waiting for workers is probably the best way to tell. Lasius flavus and L. neoniger are almost exactly the same in terms of keeping them in captivity, the only real difference is how they look.


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#15 Offline noebl1 - Posted February 10 2018 - 7:04 AM

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@Mettcollsuss is right, it's pretty much impossible to tell what type of Lasius it is without very clear shots of the head for mandibles, antenna, etc.   @Batspiderfish with those shots could probably help narrow it down for you.

 

In 2016 I caught a bunch of Lasius queens in the fall, and they all looked identical (I also really wanted L. neoniger.)  Wasn't until the first nanitics eclosed did I get a better idea of what they were.  I had assumed Lasius neoniger as I thought they were the more popular species here, but maybe 25-30% were, rest were L. flavus and similar sp.


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#16 Offline Will230145 - Posted February 10 2018 - 7:23 AM

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Ok, should i start a journal?

#17 Offline noebl1 - Posted February 10 2018 - 7:39 AM

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Ok, should i start a journal?

 

Why not? :)  Worst case you can change the title later if you find it's not L. neoniger.

 

I find these a fun species, and one I *really* wanted as well.  I find L. neonger are very clever (I have one colony where they manage to escape their test tube portal, no idea *how*), and interesting to watch.  My suspected L. flavus colonies look great with their yellow/orange coloration, but tend to not forage as much and more reclusive being generally soil dwellers.  Both species tends to be pretty forgiving in regards to care.  As with some other ant species, the colony size can balloon based on feeding habits, however I restrict protein a bit to keep them from growing too quickly.  Mine were from Fall 2016 flights, and all the Lasius colonies probably have 10-20 workers when put into hibernation. I couldn't tell with the L. flavus as they tend to burrow in the cotton, but both L. neoniger colonies had huge brood piles ready for this Spring when I take them out.


Edited by noebl1, February 10 2018 - 11:03 AM.


#18 Offline Will230145 - Posted February 10 2018 - 7:51 AM

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I looked at pictures with flavin queens, they had more yellowish limbs and antennae, whereas Neoniger queens have more of brown limbs and brown antennae, she has brown limbs, but we will just have to wait...

Do flavus wait before or after hibernation to lay? Mine waited after hibernation too lay eggs

Edit: I just realized her limbs and antennae are yellow...

Edited by Will230145, February 10 2018 - 7:58 AM.


#19 Offline Will230145 - Posted February 10 2018 - 8:06 AM

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I saw her fly during nuptial flight and mate, but she flew from a brown colony, that looked like Lasius Neoniger, I think she is L. Neoniger!

#20 Offline VoidElecent - Posted February 10 2018 - 8:09 AM

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At this point with this limited information, there's really no way to tell if she's flavus group or niger group. L. neoniger can also have tints of yellow. 

 

As of now, here are your options:

 

L. niger group:

  • Lasius neoniger (workers will be light brown to brown with shiny pubescence)
  • Lasius alienus (workers will be dark brown to black/grey)
  • Lasius palitarsis (workers will resemble  L. neoniger, but slightly larger)

L. flavus group:

  • Lasius flavus 
  • Lasius nearcticus

I'm really not completely sure how to distinguish the last two, I'm sure there's some complicated method that required intense magnification and several guides.

 

Please, in the future, follow at least some of the rule regarding posting an identification thread. Read the template and if you still don't get it, browse other ID threads to see what they look like.


Edited by VoidElecent, February 10 2018 - 12:05 PM.

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