Location: San Leandro (SF Bay Area), CA; Crawling on the windshield of my car sometime in the afternoon.
Date of Collection: Mid-January, 2021
Habitat: Suburban area, some trees, some small fields, mostly lawns and sidewalks
Length: Approx. 4-5mm
Shiny, dark reddish-brown with faint spot on spine of wings, no visible hairs, oval-shaped gaster.
Two petiole nodes.
Curled into a "C" shape during collection and whenever I check her test tube.
Unable to locate nest.
Nuptial flight time and date unknown.
Have had this queen for nearly two months, so far it has dropped one wing, no brood. Would really appreciate some assistance identifying, and some input as to whether this is a viable queen or not.