1. Location (on a map) of collection: Virginia, USA
2. Date of collection: 6/29/2020
3. Habitat of collection: Back porch at a black light
4. Length (from head to gaster): 5-6mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Very dark brown
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Wings are not transparent
7. Distinguishing behavior: None
8. Nest description: None

9. Nuptial flight time and date: 9:00 PM -- 6/29/2020

I'm thinking Lasius. It looks kinda male-ish though, so maybe I'm just a newb lol. I hope these phone pics are good enough, my camera lens is broken.

Edited by FeedTheAnts, June 29 2020 - 5:25 PM.

I've caught a few more, so I smashed one to see what it smells like. It smells like a grape flavored sucker if that helps.

Should I introduce them to host workers now, or hibernate them first?

Looks like a wingless wasp. Correct me if I'm wrong, but those antennae to not appear to have a bend.

Subgenus acanthomyops male. He took the wings off...

I'm afraid you're right about it being a male. Yes, I did remove the wings myself for better viewing. They sure are the thickest males I've ever seen.

Look up acanthomyops male, it matches exactly.
 

That is not a male. It is a Lasius social parasite queen, most likely L. aphidicola. I see these all the time.

 
https://www.google.c...QAAAAAdAAAAABAD

Second from the left is a male

Edited by FeedTheAnts, June 30 2020 - 7:04 AM.

This is definitely a species of wasp. It doesn't have the signature bend in the antenna that all ants have, along with that the head to body ratio is too big to be a male alate (and queen ants have their antenna bent)

This is definitely a species of wasp. It doesn't have the signature bend in the antenna that all ants have, along with that the head to body ratio is too big to be a male alate (and queen ants have their antenna bent)

I disagree. It is not a wasp. I know the pics aren't too good but In person it clearly is an ant. Look up Lasius males, it matches a few exactly.

This is definitely a species of wasp. It doesn't have the signature bend in the antenna that all ants have, along with that the head to body ratio is too big to be a male alate (and queen ants have their antenna bent)

Males don't always have a noticeable bend in their antennae.  Some males have the elbow very close to their head which makes it unnoticeable.

 

This is definitely a species of wasp. It doesn't have the signature bend in the antenna that all ants have, along with that the head to body ratio is too big to be a male alate (and queen ants have their antenna bent)

I disagree. It is not a wasp. I know the pics aren't too good but In person it clearly is an ant. Look up Lasius males, it matches a few exactly.

 

I've been looking at Lasius males all night  Upon relooking at your pictures, the top one, I can barely see the bend (but it's still there!!) The bottom one didn't do me any good . But, I can definitely say that is is a male alate and not a wasp!! Thank you for the humbling experience and pointing it out for me I can't fully ID it due to not being able to count the antenna segments, but if you can provide that, I got you! 

 

 

This is definitely a species of wasp. It doesn't have the signature bend in the antenna that all ants have, along with that the head to body ratio is too big to be a male alate (and queen ants have their antenna bent)

I disagree. It is not a wasp. I know the pics aren't too good but In person it clearly is an ant. Look up Lasius males, it matches a few exactly.

 

I've been looking at Lasius males all night  Upon relooking at your pictures, the top one, I can barely see the bend (but it's still there!!) The bottom one didn't do me any good . But, I can definitely say that is is a male alate and not a wasp!! Thank you for the humbling experience and pointing it out for me I can't fully ID it due to not being able to count the antenna segments, but if you can provide that, I got you! 

 

I don't have them anymore, sorry. Once I knew they were males I wasn't too interested in an ID.