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Ant ID request - Virginia

Started By ANTdrew , Oct 1 2018 7:41 AM

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4 replies to this topic

#1 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 1 2018 - 7:42 AM

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LocationAlexandria, VA

Hi!

I've been finding these small bright reddish yellow ants under logs in my area. The workers are about 2mm long with a chunky appearance. The alates are about 6mm long and are much darker than the workers. One colony I found in a savannah type area bordering a park, and the other one is under a log in woodpile. Can you help ID them?

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#2 Offline AnthonyP163 - Posted October 1 2018 - 12:33 PM

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LocationWaukesha, Wisconsin.

This appears to be a Lasius social parasite, possibly Lasius aphidicolus or claviger. some more, close up pictures would help. The wings kind of block some features on the queen, which is important. It's much easier to ID these species by the queens than the workers.

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#3 Offline ANTdrew - Posted October 2 2018 - 10:27 AM

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LocationAlexandria, VA

Thank you! That's really interesting and would explain why the workers and alates were such different colors. Any idea what the workers could be?

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#4 Offline Joehostile85 - Posted October 3 2018 - 9:47 AM

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The queens and workers in this picture are the same species. These parasitic queens have yellow/orange workers. They forage underground not on the surface. This colouring is typical of Lasius colonies that forage underground. Think claviger, Flavus, unbratus, ect.