16 replies to this topic

[Shifty189]

I know these photo's aren't very good, but they are the best that I have at the moment. In the next few days i'll take her out of the platic tube I have her in and try to take some better photo's, but until then is it even possible to confirm that this is a queen?

 

She was caught in South Florida, on the east coast. I found her in a park that was in a scrub forest, just before noon on April 2nd. She is 1/2 inch in length, and appears to be a dark brown

 

I have done this catch and observe thing with a few ants, but this is the first one that just wanted to be out of the light, and didn't really try to escape.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks ahead of time for your reply.

Edited by Shifty189, April 2 2018 - 4:57 PM.

[VoidElecent]

Forelius sp. F. pruinosus, perhaps.

[Shifty189]

Strangely what species isn’t as important as determining if she is a queen. Your guess?

[VoidElecent]

Strangely what species isn’t as important as determining if she is a queen. Your guess?

 

Oh, my bad! She is definitely a queen, just look at those wing scars!

[123LordOfAnts123]

Agree with Void.

Get there early morning after a rain the previous day to find plenty of queens; they fly early dawn.

[Shifty189]

 

Strangely what species isn’t as important as determining if she is a queen. Your guess?

 

Oh, my bad! She is definitely a queen, just look at those wing scars!

 

First queen! Thanks for that, I won't hold you to it until we get the better photo's

[VoidElecent]

You should start a journal for these girls. I've always been interested in this genus.

[Aaron567]

I believe this may be the small, grey undescribed Forelius species that has been found all over Florida. Nice find. I hope you have good luck with her!

Edited by Aaron567, April 3 2018 - 7:09 PM.

[123LordOfAnts123]

I believe this may be the small, grey undescribed Forelius species that has been found all over Florida. Nice find. I hope you have good luck with her!

They’re technically Forelius pruinosus, but as with the western specimens they may very well be a separate species, or at least subspecies. I’ve found queens that have appeared completely grey, to those that were bicolored with slightly lighter in color workers. Probably simple variation in color as is common in F. pruinosus, but I have noticed that these ants tend to only be found in or very close to unaltered habitat, such as scrub or sand hill. This differed from the ants I saw out west that adapted well to human disturbance.

There’s also apparently a couple, less common species of Forelius with distance morphological differences not yet given names, and best discerned under the microscope.

[Shifty189]

Wow I am amazed that this is actually a queen. I am definitely keeping a journal on her, but won’t make it public until she has a few workers.

Thanks everyone for the support here. I’ll be updating some photos in the next few days. I don’t want to stress her out much before then

[123LordOfAnts123]

I should note that these ants are often difficult to start, the queens skittish and fond of eating their brood. Heat is essential in brood development. Their eggs will sit and do nothing at 75 degrees while I’ve had fair growth above 80. They’re perhaps the most heat tolerant of all Florida ants; workers will be out in full force zipping about at full speed when temperatures are too hot even for Pogonomyrmex.

[VoidElecent]

I should note that these ants are often difficult to start, the queens skittish and fond of eating their brood. Heat is essential in brood development. Their eggs will sit and do nothing at 75 degrees while I’ve had fair growth above 80. They’re perhaps the most heat tolerant of all Florida ants; workers will be out in full force zipping about at full speed when temperatures are too hot even for Pogonomyrmex.

 

I have previously kept several colonies of the same species; they were surprisingly easy to found, but their colonies didn't thrive. I purchased a heating lamp when they had 5-10 workers each, but their colonies seemed to slowly dwindle upon exposure. I also believe I went on vacation for a short period of time and was unable to monitor their progress; so their demise may have been a product of carbon monoxide suffocation or a lack of essential nutrition. I'd recommend keeping a close eye on them; nanitics are very small, which can make early-stage care slightly difficult. If they succeed, do document the processes in detail, if possible.

Edited by VoidElecent, April 4 2018 - 8:31 AM.

[Shifty189]

Thanks for the advise. I’m finding it difficult to find information on there ants. Even the basic stuff like are they fully claustral or not.

From what you two have told me, I think the hardest part may be leaving them alone and getting them hot enough. I currently have her on my porch in a closed cabinet. What do you think about his set up? Also she is in a test tube set up, I’m worried there may be to much moisture for her.

Thanks again everyone for all the good advice.

[gcsnelling]

 

I believe this may be the small, grey undescribed Forelius species that has been found all over Florida. Nice find. I hope you have good luck with her!

or at least subspecies.

Oh god no the "S: word.

[AntsClaifornia]

Judging by the gaster    . I believe you have the highly invasive Linepithema humile or Argentine ant...  You need to help her out with some workers where ever you found her... They don't have mating flights like most ants. They mate with in their nest and can have giant super colonies with over a 100 queens. I would go back get some workers/brood/queens

to boost her growth (leave them in the fridge for 20 mins before adding your queen) .There is a bit of a chance they will attack her... It would have been best if you had garbed some ants she was with... If you found her walking outside exposed, she most likely had a large amount of workers that would have helped her start her satellite nest.

Edited by AntsClaifornia, April 13 2018 - 2:13 AM.

[dspdrew]

Did you actually use a ruler to measure this queen?

[Shifty189]

Judging by the gaster    . I believe you have the highly invasive Linepithema humile or Argentine ant...  You need to help her out with some workers where ever you found her... They don't have mating flights like most ants. They mate with in their nest and can have giant super colonies with over a 100 queens. I would go back get some workers/brood/queens

to boost her growth (leave them in the fridge for 20 mins before adding your queen) .There is a bit of a chance they will attack her... It would have been best if you had garbed some ants she was with... If you found her walking outside exposed, she most likely had a large amount of workers that would have helped her start her satellite nest.

 

She may have had some workers with her, but i don't think so. I appreciate the advice here, but this queen died 2 days after i found her without laying any eggs