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Photo

Queen collected at Horseshoe Springs, Utah.

identification queen nuptial flight

Best Answer NickAnter , August 24 2021 - 8:39 AM

Looks like a Cautolasius sp. queen. Maybe Lasius fallax, or brevicornis.

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#1 Offline muddsnake88 - Posted August 24 2021 - 8:35 AM

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1. Location (on a map) of collection:  Horseshoe Springs, Utah

 

2. Date of collection: 8/22/2021 

 

3. Habitat of collection: West desert brush land on a trail. 

 

4. Length (from head to gaster): 6 - 7 mm

 

5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: light yellow with brown 

 

6. Distinguishing characteristics: Color?

 

7. Distinguishing behavior: Queens post wing removal, not very fast, scurry like old ladies if startled. 

 

8. Nest description: None within sight, too many mosquitos to look! 

 

9. Nuptial flight time and date: 8/22/2021 Probably? 

 

Caught about 20 of these running from smaller tetra like ants. After a rainstorm the previous day. Pictures of one that didn't make it and another picture of the environment around Horseshoe Springs, Utah. 

 

 

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Edited by muddsnake88, August 24 2021 - 8:37 AM.


#2 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 24 2021 - 8:39 AM   Best Answer

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Looks like a Cautolasius sp. queen. Maybe Lasius fallax, or brevicornis.


  • muddsnake88 likes this

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 


#3 Offline muddsnake88 - Posted August 24 2021 - 1:29 PM

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Looks like a Cautolasius sp. queen. Maybe Lasius fallax, or brevicornis.

 

Thank you good sir. My apologies for the crappy pics. I'm at work and don't have my lens on me. 



#4 Offline muddsnake88 - Posted August 26 2021 - 7:38 PM

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Looks like a Cautolasius sp. queen. Maybe Lasius fallax, or brevicornis.


I think your right. After getting a new lens and a lot of looking at ants, it indeed appears to be Lasius brevicornis. Thanks a bunch for getting me in the right direction!

#5 Offline muddsnake88 - Posted August 26 2021 - 8:05 PM

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What a difference 100x makes :)

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Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: identification, queen, nuptial flight

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