Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Michigan Queen ID Needed 08/21/2018


  • Please log in to reply
11 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Xothi - Posted August 21 2018 - 12:42 PM

Xothi

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 5 posts
  • LocationMichigan

I sadly do not have measurements, but here's the best pictures I could get.

 

 

Caught in the alley in my backyard in Michigan.

 

 

I've been getting a lot of mixed reviews on what species they are, and currently most of the reviews state Formica Fusca.

 

 

I am still very very new to ant keeping, so any advice or pointers would be appreciated!

 

 

39442781_1929390494027628_4786811140963339509372_319045185498675_896699308663059



#2 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted August 21 2018 - 12:58 PM

AntsAreUs

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,029 posts
  • LocationMarion, IN

Formica in the fusca group. I can't determine the species from your pictures.

 

They are fully claustral and quite easy to care for but might be disturbed by light.


Edited by AntsAreUs, August 21 2018 - 1:01 PM.


#3 Offline rbarreto - Posted August 21 2018 - 2:22 PM

rbarreto

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 645 posts
  • LocationOttawa, On

Looks like Formica subsericea to me. We need better pictures of the pubescence on her gaster and mesosoma.


My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#4 Offline Xothi - Posted August 21 2018 - 3:38 PM

Xothi

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 5 posts
  • LocationMichigan

Alright, thank you! I was going to try and get more pictures but I've had a happy discovery! And I wouldn't want to disturb the girls.

 

One of them has started laying eggs! Is this normal for queens caught only two days ago?



#5 Offline rbarreto - Posted August 21 2018 - 7:27 PM

rbarreto

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 645 posts
  • LocationOttawa, On

Alright, thank you! I was going to try and get more pictures but I've had a happy discovery! And I wouldn't want to disturb the girls.

 

One of them has started laying eggs! Is this normal for queens caught only two days ago?

Yup, I've had some lay within hours.


My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#6 Offline Mettcollsuss - Posted August 21 2018 - 8:28 PM

Mettcollsuss

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,700 posts
  • LocationChicago, IL
Formica sp., most likely F. subsericea as I see them all over whenever I visit Michigan. Fully claustral. Queens are very timid and easily susceptible to eating their own eggs, but workers are energetic and aggressive. Easy and fun to keep. Provide the queens with heat if possible, as brood development is slow otherwise. When mature, colonies are massive and polydomous, meaning they would have no problem with multiple nests connected with tubing. These ants enjoy large outworlds. Wild colonies are occasionally found to be oligogynous, but it’s still best to keep queens separate.
  • AntsBC likes this

#7 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted August 22 2018 - 1:17 PM

Kaelwizard

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,852 posts
  • LocationPoway, California

Looks like Formica subsericea to me. We need better pictures of the pubescence on her gaster and mesosoma.

we don't have formica subsericea in MI i live there too. might be formica fusca. i had a queen it died tho



#8 Offline rbarreto - Posted August 22 2018 - 2:59 PM

rbarreto

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 645 posts
  • LocationOttawa, On
You most certainly do have Formica subsericea in MI. There is no Formica fusca in North America.

My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#9 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted August 22 2018 - 5:01 PM

Kaelwizard

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,852 posts
  • LocationPoway, California

You most certainly do have Formica subsericea in MI. There is no Formica fusca in North America.

 look on antweb. i caught a formica fusca queen.


You most certainly do have Formica subsericea in MI. There is no Formica fusca in North America.

also look on the maps on antwiki's article about formica fusca



#10 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted August 22 2018 - 5:40 PM

Batspiderfish

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,614 posts

Genetic testing has so far not shown Formica fusca to exist in North America, and from what I understand it is now considered to be Formica subaenescens. This genus is difficult to identify, and so it's easy to confuse one black Formica with another. Antweb is a decent resource, but its distribution data is spotty -- I think they only count whatever specimens wind up in their collection.


  • AntsBC likes this

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.

 

----

Black lives still matter.


#11 Offline Major - Posted August 22 2018 - 5:55 PM

Major

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 588 posts
  • LocationRochester, New York
Probably Subserica.

#12 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted August 22 2018 - 5:58 PM

AntsAreUs

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,029 posts
  • LocationMarion, IN

Wild colonies are occasionally found to be oligogynous,

I disagree. I found several colonies where there were many queens in contact near surface and likely many more underneath. You can found queens together as well.






0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users