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Is this an intruder?

Started By jsg994 , Jul 19 2018 7:26 PM

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9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline jsg994 - Posted July 19 2018 - 7:26 PM

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I have a colony of tetramorium tsushimae and I am in the midst of a nest change (original nest was my first one I ever made and hydration was an issue) and I noticed this major looking ant walking around. It is not my queen and the other ants don't seem to care about it. Anyone have any ideas?

Album: Tetra Tsush

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#2 Offline Zxirl - Posted July 19 2018 - 7:47 PM

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What makes you think that it isn't your queen?

Spoiler

#3 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted July 19 2018 - 7:57 PM

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Tetramorium can be fairly polymorphic. I've mistaken Tetramorium workers before because they were the size of some of our Myrmica (~5mm).

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#4 Offline jsg994 - Posted July 19 2018 - 8:22 PM

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It's not my queen because the queen was on the level right below this lady. The queen is all black and has a much bigger gastor. She was the first queen I ever caught I remember her! =)

#5 Offline jsg994 - Posted July 19 2018 - 8:23 PM

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AntsAreUs - that is interesting, I tried to find anything about having bigger workers online but couldn't. Good to know! Thanks!

#6 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted July 19 2018 - 8:34 PM

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Well they aren't truly polymorphic, it is just that they can have slightly larger or smaller workers than normally for some reason.

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#7 Offline BMM - Posted July 20 2018 - 10:10 AM

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Was this a wild caught colony? If so, it might be possible that you had an queen alate eclose. Definitely looks large quite large for a worker.

#8 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted July 20 2018 - 10:41 AM

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Are you sure this isn't Monomorium? Ergatoid castes are not uncommon in that genus.

If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

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Black lives still matter.

#9 Offline jsg994 - Posted July 20 2018 - 3:44 PM

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I was told they were tsushimae but I am nowhere near an expert on identifying yet. I’ll look into monomorium!

#10 Offline BMM - Posted July 21 2018 - 1:16 PM

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A good close up picture would help confirm that. Although interestingly enough, I observed several T. tsushimae colonies last year and noticed that wingless queens can emerge from the nests during nuptial flights in addition to normal winged queens. I wonder if it's possible that T. tsushimae produce ergatoid queens.