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Victoria BC Canada June 25th/17 Queen Flights -2 species ID?

victoria bc canada june 25

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#1 Offline Russell - Posted June 25 2017 - 8:11 PM

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Hi All Again

 

   Western Canada is having a heat wave which has helped me find a number of queens right after flights. I have found 3 species in the last week and even 3 different queen species today. One if Formica but the two new ones today I would appreciate any help you can give IDing? See pics and descriptions below;

 

Queen 1

1,Location of collection: Victoria BC Canada. Esquimalt on sidewalk. 

2. Date of collection: June 25th/2017 Found 5 queens over the day. Most around 9am. 28 degrees Celsius aprox 41% humidity. 
3. Habitat of collection: Paver driveway and sidewalk. Urban area
4. Length (from head to gaster):7-8mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Shinny black head and thorax,red/orange legs, with a black and orange stripe Gaster, hear on head and body, red jaws, 
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 2 spikes pointing backwards on the thorax, 2 part petiole with one closest to thorax a pump and second one rounded. 
7. Distinguishing behavior: All queens walk oddly compared to other ants appearing to drag gasters. 
8. Nest description:  Unknown

 

Pics;

 

 

Queen 2

1,Location of collection: Victoria BC Canada Esquimalt . Crossing driveway. Very fast and aggressive ant. 

2. Date of collection: June 25th/2017 Found 1 queen at 7;30pm. 23 degrees Celsius aprox 41% humidity. 
3. Habitat of collection: Paver driveway. Urban area
4. Length (from head to gaster):10mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Red/Orange read and thorax. Black legs. Black Gasters. 11 segments per antenna.Large single red spike petiole. 
6. Distinguishing characteristics: see pics and above. 
7. Distinguishing behaviour: Fast and peered very aggrieve when capturing. 
8. Nest description:  Unknown

 

Pics;  

 

 
Thank you for the help. 
Russell 

 


Camponotus Pennsylvanicus/Modus

Tetramorium sp. E

Formica Podzolica

Lasius Alienus

Lasius Niger

Formica Ravida 


#2 Offline VoidElecent - Posted June 25 2017 - 8:20 PM

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Tetramorium Sp. E, Formica cf. ravida


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#3 Offline Russell - Posted June 25 2017 - 10:27 PM

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Tetramorium Sp. E, Formica cf. ravida

That appears to match up so thank you!. Funny part is my family spent the day hunting for Formica thatching ants at a lake with hundreds of thatched nets and found no queens. A day later we see one running across our driveway. 

So I understand care for Tetramorium, but how do you care for Formica cf.ravida?. 

She is temporarily parasitic so if I leave her in a tube she will not lay correct?.

If she needs brood from other ants preferably Formica Fusa which I do not have can I give her brood from a Formica podzolia which I have several?. How best to do this,just take brood with a cue tip and move over or move my Formica

podzolia queen to new tube and put Ravida queen In?. 

Since my Formica podzolia are new(had for a few days only) and will only start laying this week do I need to feed the Ravida queen until I can give her brood?. 

 

Thanks for any direction on this. 

Russell 


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Camponotus Pennsylvanicus/Modus

Tetramorium sp. E

Formica Podzolica

Lasius Alienus

Lasius Niger

Formica Ravida 


#4 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted June 26 2017 - 5:39 AM

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Brood from any fusca-group Formica should be ok. They need to be in the pupal stage, though, so waiting on your other queens is not a great option.


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If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

 

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

 

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Black lives still matter.





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