Was out on a early dinner picnic not looking for anything at all but spotted flying termites and caught about 10 of them after everybody left. Got strange looks from strangers SO WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE. Sadly not ants but it's my first catch so gonna give myself a pat on the back for this one. They are all alates and there were hundreds of them swarming.
Can anyone identify the species? I'm thinking Zootermopsis nevadensis based on the following information below:
1. Location of collection: A park next to a lake in a beach town.
2. Date of collection: August 27, 2018.
3. Habitat of collection: Winged alates gathering around a large tree and on the ground in the immediate area.
4. Length: 13-15mm
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Dark orange bodies, black mandibles. Looks like a dampwood termite.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: N/A I have very little termite experience.
7. Anything else distinctive: N/A
8. Nest description (if you can find the nest, and you're sure it belongs to the ant you collected) (ie: rotted log, volcano-shaped mound of coarse gavel 10cm in diameter, etc.).
9. Nuptial flight time and date: Today was a nuptial flight, August 27, 2018.
Any further care information you can give would help. My current game plan is to use a tupperware container with moist, rotten wood for nesting material and decaying plant matter as food. Will keep at 80-85 degrees F and spray about 3mL of water in the container every day. I'm going to keep all of them together. Thanks.