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Pheidole Major?


Best Answer Aaron567 , June 6 2020 - 8:52 AM

That is Solenopsis xyloni. They come in this black form in parts of Arizona, apparently.

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#1 Offline Froggy - Posted June 6 2020 - 8:43 AM

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I'v been seeing large colony's of small black ants with some Majors and possibly Supermajors, the majors have the same coloration as the workers, but the workers have larger slightly larger heads and are longer than the workers, the (maybe) Supermajors are larger in every way to the majors and workers and have red heads that fade to black at the base

 

 

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Cave Creek, AZ
2. Date of collection: N/A
3. Habitat of collection: Desert Scrub
4. Length (from head to gaster): Workers: 3mm Majors 3-4mm Supermajors?: 4-5mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Workers & Majors: Black Supermajors?: Red head that fades to black towards base
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Majors have large heads compared to workers
7. Distinguishing behavior: Long straight foraging trails that sometimes leave indentation on the ground
8. Nest description: basically just a hole with some small sticks and dirt around it

9. Nuptial flight time and date:N/A

 

Supermajor with worker:

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#2 Offline Froggy - Posted June 6 2020 - 8:44 AM

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I can take more images or get more information if needed, but they only come out at night 



#3 Offline Aaron567 - Posted June 6 2020 - 8:52 AM   Best Answer

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That is Solenopsis xyloni. They come in this black form in parts of Arizona, apparently.


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#4 Offline Froggy - Posted June 6 2020 - 9:57 AM

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That is Solenopsis xyloni. They come in this black form in parts of Arizona, apparently.

Oh ok, I didn't know Solenopsis had Major castes 



#5 Offline AntsDakota - Posted June 6 2020 - 10:14 AM

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That is Solenopsis xyloni. They come in this black form in parts of Arizona, apparently.

Oh ok, I didn't know Solenopsis had Major castes
Oh, they definitely do. I also can tell it’s not Pheidole since the major’s petiole has two distinct large nodes, which Pheidole do not have.
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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version


#6 Offline Robert - Posted June 6 2020 - 10:24 AM

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That is Solenopsis xyloni. They come in this black form in parts of Arizona, apparently.

Oh ok, I didn't know Solenopsis had Major castes
Oh, they definitely do. I also can tell it’s not Pheidole since the major’s petiole has two distinct large nodes, which Pheidole do not have.

 

The existence of a well defined two-segmented antennal club also separates Solenopsis workers from Pheidole. 


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