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Dspdrew's Camponotus sp.1 Journal [247] (Updated 4-14-2024)

camponotus clarithorax journal dspdrew

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#1 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 25 2013 - 8:30 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

5-10-2014

On Saturday 5-3-2014 I found this Camponotus queen wandering on a dirt road up in a place called Little Thomas Mountain in the San Jacinto Mountains. It was a few hours after dark, and the temperature was in the 50's.

ID Thread: https://www.formicul...s-ca-6-21-2014/

1. Location of collection: Little Thomas Mountain, San Jacinto Mountains, California.
2. Date of collection: 5-3-2014.
3. Habitat of collection: Pine/Oak Forest.
4. Length (from head to gaster): 11mm.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: All black with dark brown legs; yellow hairs, numerous on cheeks.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: No clypeal carina or notch.

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Edit: I have added microscope pictures of this queen since it died.

Edit: I have removed my guess as to the ID of this queen, since I have recently found a C. quercicola queen, and there are just too many differences.


Edited by dspdrew, September 7 2023 - 5:31 PM.


#2 Offline dspdrew - Posted May 29 2014 - 8:00 AM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 5-29-2014
 
This queen laid eggs, and then ate them all. She went for a week or so with nothing, and then now has laid more eggs again.



#3 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted July 8 2014 - 3:06 PM

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Any Update?



#4 Offline dspdrew - Posted July 8 2014 - 3:27 PM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 7-8-2014
 
Finally the queen has some brood that is developing. :D   At this point she has two cocooned pupae, and a few larvae. There is some debate over what species she really is--or even genus, :huh: but at this point I can't see what else she could possibly be other than C. quercicola, even though she is quite small for one of those. We'll get a much better idea once her workers eclose.



#5 Offline Chromerust - Posted July 8 2014 - 10:39 PM

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I definitely have one of these too Drew. It came from Little Thomas mountan. It's probably eaten a hundred eggs by now. Last week I stuck her in the warmest spot I can find and am leaving her undisturbed for a few weeks. Hopefully she will be a good girl now.



#6 Offline dspdrew - Posted July 19 2014 - 9:30 AM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Update 7-19-2014
 
The queen's first nanitic eclosed yesterday and it's definitely Camponotus. I'm still not sure what species it is though, because the nanitic worker is only about 4 mm in length.
 
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#7 Offline Mathiacus - Posted July 21 2014 - 9:08 PM

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What a vicious fail-mum. I hope you have her far from your other queens, she is bad news ;-)

#8 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted July 22 2014 - 7:30 PM

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I want a Camponotus! Very jealous of all your journals though still.



#9 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted September 20 2014 - 2:14 PM

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What has happened?



#10 Offline dspdrew - Posted September 21 2014 - 4:06 AM

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She never finished helping the worker eclose, and it died. I think she then ate the other one again, so she has nothing now.



#11 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 17 2014 - 8:28 PM

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or even genus

What else would she have been? :thinking:



#12 Offline dspdrew - Posted October 18 2014 - 7:24 AM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Well it was unclear enough for James C. Trager to think she was possibly Formica at one point.



#13 Offline dean_k - Posted October 18 2014 - 8:56 AM

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May I ask what ant queens do with the cotton? They seem to ... sort of braid it? For fun? Or maybe sucking water out of it?


Edited by dean_k, October 18 2014 - 8:58 AM.


#14 Offline dspdrew - Posted October 18 2014 - 10:10 AM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

They just keep pulling at it for reasons I don't exactly know. Maybe they're trying to dig toward the moisture more? Maybe they're trying to dispose of parts of it? Could be lots of things.



#15 Offline Justin - Posted October 18 2014 - 10:18 AM

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how big is that queen?



#16 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 18 2014 - 11:18 AM

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Camponotus queens range from 11-18mm I think.



#17 Offline Justin - Posted October 18 2014 - 11:37 AM

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damn haha!



#18 Offline dspdrew - Posted October 18 2014 - 6:46 PM

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  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

I just updated the original post. This one is about 11mm.



#19 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted October 18 2014 - 7:04 PM

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That is actually pretty small for a Camponotus!



#20 Offline dspdrew - Posted October 18 2014 - 11:01 PM

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Yeah... pretty small for a C. quercicola.







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