Unrelated, but I have seen 3 or 4 morphologically distinct species of Tapinoma (in size, behaviour) distinguishable from the queens here in Ontario

To my knowledge there is only one Tapinoma endemic to your area, T. sessile, and to date only 3  confirmed and recognized species of Tapinoma to the continental US and Canada: T. sessile, T. schreiberi, and T. litorale. There is I will note though that most likely within the next 6 months a published work will come out describing new parasitic Tapinoma species found in the Eastern US (this from private communication with ant expert at Harvard).

Quite a bit of morphological variation within T. sessile  often leads to false reads regarding novel species claims.  The only way I feel at the current moment and as my own research is indicating is to get proper measurements: Head Length, Head Width, Scape etc and run the numbers, or to do a genetic test.  My examination of only CO1 sequences from Canadian samples, a vast number being from Ontaria indicates that the Canadian population of Tapinoma sessile all  fall within the "Mountain" clade, most likely a cold/elevation adaptive subpopulation, as per this published paper's analysis:  https://journals.plo...al.pone.0009194.  

If you want to collect samples and send them to me of what you feel are possibly new ants please feel free.  You may contact me via private chat.  

Do the new parasitic Tapinoma have a worker caste?

Sent from my moto g stylus using Tapatalk

From the conversation, no.  Winged females and wingless males only.

Update:  Finishing up the new species description.  Hope to have it out for review and publication within a couple of weeks.  Will be heading to the Denver, Colorado for the Entomological Society of America National Convention on the last weekend of October to present my research.  Challenging and exciting. 

Edited by PurdueEntomology, September 7 2021 - 5:57 PM.

Will the presentation only be in person, or is there a way to view it online?

Sent from my moto g stylus using Tapatalk

madbiologist, I believe one would have to register to even view. I will look into it and if there is the possibility for a non-member of ESA to view only a specific virtual content event I will post the relevant information in a new posting for any other Formiculture.com members to view.  Unfortunately the  virtual conference registrations for non-members is itself a bit pricey.  Fortunately as a graduate student we are allotted a stipend for conferences so that saves me money.  Once my species description paper is published though I will post a link on this forum.  

The ESA registration link is here:  https://www.entsoc.o...ng/registration

Edited by PurdueEntomology, September 8 2021 - 3:26 AM.

That is super cool, this is a genus that has long been in need of work. Congratulations.

Update:

I am finishing my thesis this month and will defend the last Thursday of October.  I will be attending the Entomological Society of America's annual conference from October 31-November 2nd in Denver to present my research.  My first chapter will be a phylogenetic comparative method analysis of Tapinoma sessile subpopulations and haplotype distributions and adaptive convergence with respect to climate, elevation and morphology.  My second chapter is a detailed description of the new Tapinoma species I have discovered in Tennessee.  It is similar to T. schreiberi but concolor.  When I have gotten papers out for publications and they are accepted I will post links for anyone to read and enjoy.  

I will give my defense on December 2nd, 2021.  I will post a Zoom link with a password if any of you are interested in my presentation to the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department here at the University of Tennessee.  Those of you interested in entomology and myrmecology beyond a formiculture interest or those of you just more deeply interested in ants, ant evolution, etc, you may find my presentation interesting.  Those of you thinking that any odd ant you find may be an eureka! new species, my talk on my species description and what it entailed to establish it will be insightful.  Anyway, I will post the link a few days before the presentation.  I hope you take the time to watch as it will be a small window into the truly fascinating world of entomology and more specific ant studies and perhaps inspire some of you to pursue your interests beyond mere hobby.  

Caio!!

Update:

I am finishing my thesis this month and will defend the last Thursday of October.  I will be attending the Entomological Society of America's annual conference from October 31-November 2nd in Denver to present my research.  My first chapter will be a phylogenetic comparative method analysis of Tapinoma sessile subpopulations and haplotype distributions and adaptive convergence with respect to climate, elevation and morphology.  My second chapter is a detailed description of the new Tapinoma species I have discovered in Tennessee.  It is similar to T. schreiberi but concolor.  When I have gotten papers out for publications and they are accepted I will post links for anyone to read and enjoy.  

I enjoyed this presentation. Nice work and congrats! Will look forward to tuning into your defense in December.

Edited by Miles, November 8 2021 - 7:40 AM.

 

Update:

I am finishing my thesis this month and will defend the last Thursday of October.  I will be attending the Entomological Society of America's annual conference from October 31-November 2nd in Denver to present my research.  My first chapter will be a phylogenetic comparative method analysis of Tapinoma sessile subpopulations and haplotype distributions and adaptive convergence with respect to climate, elevation and morphology.  My second chapter is a detailed description of the new Tapinoma species I have discovered in Tennessee.  It is similar to T. schreiberi but concolor.  When I have gotten papers out for publications and they are accepted I will post links for anyone to read and enjoy.  

I enjoyed this presentation. Nice work and congrats! Will look forward to tuning into your defense in December.

 

Thanks so much!!

I will give my defense on December 2nd, 2021. I will post a Zoom link with a password if any of you are interested in my presentation to the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department here at the University of Tennessee. Those of you interested in entomology and myrmecology beyond a formiculture interest or those of you just more deeply interested in ants, ant evolution, etc, you may find my presentation interesting. Those of you thinking that any odd ant you find may be an eureka! new species, my talk on my species description and what it entailed to establish it will be insightful. Anyway, I will post the link a few days before the presentation. I hope you take the time to watch as it will be a small window into the truly fascinating world of entomology and more specific ant studies and perhaps inspire some of you to pursue your interests beyond mere hobby.

Caio!!

Today I successfully completed my Master's program in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  I submitted my final thesis and was approved by my committee. Now to prepare the new species description of Tapinoma heleni Edwards, 2022 for publication.  It took time and patience but to a good outcome.  I had a great committee of four erudite professors and grew much in this process.  

Congratulations

You have definitely earned this you worked hard! : )

Edited by Antkeeper01, January 24 2022 - 6:34 PM.

You have definitely earned this you worked hard! : )

agreed!!!

Congrats sweetie! Best of blessings to you!