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Austin, TX - July 16, 2016

worker

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#1 Offline Bryansant - Posted July 15 2016 - 10:59 PM

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1. Location of observation: Zilker Park, Austin, TX. 
2. Date of observation: July 15, 2016
3. Habitat of observation: in the grass of Zilker Park. There is a distinct trail in the grass that I've noticed every time I walk that section of the park and thought for sure it was ant related. Today I got close and noticed some activity and took photos.
4. Length: Largest were about 1 cm and smallest were about 3-4 mm.
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: the majors are a matte, maroon/brown color with spines and bulbous heads and distinct long, shiny mandibles and the smallest workers are shiny with more of an orange hue without any noticeable spines. I didn't collect any for close observation as I was drenched in sweat post run.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: see above and photos
7. Anything else distinctive: Nothing per se. I've often wondered at the trail but never noticed any ants until I got real close today. There were only a couple ants near the nest opening and a couple hovering just inside the entrance. I think I dripped a little sweat right onto the hole trying to observe and photograph and that brought a few more out  :D .
8. Nest description: solitary hole in the ground with a single trail through the grass extending from the hole toward the nearby tree.

 

Browsing the web for a match I want to say that this is Atta texana:

 

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Edited by Bryansant, July 15 2016 - 11:15 PM.


#2 Offline kellakk - Posted July 16 2016 - 6:20 PM

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Looks like you're correct!  Atta workers are pretty cool-looking, aren't they? :) They also tend to build distinctive mounds, although the flooding may have destroyed some of those.


Current Species:
Camponotus fragilis

Novomessor cockerelli

Pogonomyrmex montanus

Pogonomyrmex rugosus

Manica bradleyi

 

 


#3 Offline Bryansant - Posted July 17 2016 - 8:55 AM

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Thanks kellakk! Their nest is in a sprinkler fed area of the park which might also be why I've never seen the classic mound where the nest entrance is. There was another species in the same area so at first I thought there were three, but these small orange ants do fit the color profile of the smaller Atta workers. My eyes aren't that good and my camera definitely didn't capture enough detail for an accurate ID. Sometime I'll have to collect a couple...and get a DSLR!





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