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Formica ID (08/07/18) Ottawa, Ontario.

formica otario canada

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#1 Offline rbarreto - Posted August 8 2018 - 6:53 AM

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1. Location (on a map) of collection: Ottawa Ontario

2. Date of collection: August 7th 2018 at around 5 PM.
3. Habitat of collection: On the pavement near an open grassy field.

4. Length (from head to gaster): 10 mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Dark Red head and thorax, and an all black gaster.  Her entire body is covered in thick hairs.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Her head is even larger than my Formica integra queen I caught last week and she is an even darker red colour.
7. Distinguishing behavior: Once again she has very good eyesight and is extremely agitated.
8. Nest description: N/A

9. Nuptial flight time and date: N/A

 

This queen refused to sit still, I tried for ever 20 minutes to get good pictures of her but she would not let me. That's why although she is completely covered in hairs you can't really see them in the pictures. I can't even guess with Formica the keys are too complicated for me.

 

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#2 Offline Zxirl - Posted August 8 2018 - 10:15 AM

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Possibly Formica obscuripes?


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#3 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted August 8 2018 - 10:34 AM

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Probably Formica pergandei, although I would appreciate a clear shot of the clypeus. Good lighting is key to getting extra detail with macro shots.


Edited by Batspiderfish, August 8 2018 - 10:36 AM.

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.


#4 Offline rbarreto - Posted August 8 2018 - 10:38 AM

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Probably Formica pergandei, although I would appreciate a clear shot of the clypeus.

I'll do my best once I get home, hopefully she will have calmed down enough for me to take some better pictures. It would be nice if it is Formica pergandei, antwiki says they even though they are slave-makers they can get along just fine without slaves.


My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

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#5 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted August 8 2018 - 10:48 AM

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Probably Formica pergandei, although I would appreciate a clear shot of the clypeus.

I'll do my best once I get home, hopefully she will have calmed down enough for me to take some better pictures. It would be nice if it is Formica pergandei, antwiki says they even though they are slave-makers they can get along just fine without slaves.

 

 

Ehhh, sadly I cannot trust AntWiki with that assessment. They've said that all Formica raiders are facultative social parasites, but F. pergandei along with many other raiding species are rarely observed doing anything except raid and rarely found outside of the nest except during the raiding season. I've been trying to keep one of their close cousins, Formica rubicunda, and the colony is not doing well (which seems to have been the experience with all Nearctic, sanguinea-group Formica aside from F. aserva). The workers run around the foraging area with no clear purpose other than seemingly looking for host colonies.


Edited by Batspiderfish, August 8 2018 - 10:50 AM.

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.

 

----

Black lives still matter.


#6 Offline rbarreto - Posted August 8 2018 - 11:06 AM

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So I'm assuming you've confirmed this queen is in the sanguinea-group and not F. aserva? If so I'll just release her. Maybe in the future when I'm way more experienced with social parasites ill give it a go. If you ever do get a good colony going I would love to read about it.

Also what exactly distinguished the sanguinea-group from the rufa-group?


My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#7 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted August 8 2018 - 11:43 AM

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So I'm assuming you've confirmed this queen is in the sanguinea-group and not F. aserva? If so I'll just release her. Maybe in the future when I'm way more experienced with social parasites ill give it a go. If you ever do get a good colony going I would love to read about it.

Also what exactly distinguished the sanguinea-group from the rufa-group?

 

A clypeal notch, why I want a better look at the clypeus.


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.

 

----

Black lives still matter.


#8 Offline AntsAreUs - Posted August 8 2018 - 1:54 PM

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So I'm assuming you've confirmed this queen is in the sanguinea-group and not F. aserva? If so I'll just release her. Maybe in the future when I'm way more experienced with social parasites ill give it a go. If you ever do get a good colony going I would love to read about it.

Also what exactly distinguished the sanguinea-group from the rufa-group?

 

A clypeal notch, why I want a better look at the clypeus.

 

 

 

 

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#9 Offline rbarreto - Posted August 8 2018 - 4:01 PM

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Yea I know what it is  :D. I was just curious as to what the difference between the two groups is. This queen once again would not sit still for a moment so the only picture I could get was of her underside. Unfortunately, the picture shows she does have a notch  (n).

 

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Extra picture which kinda shows how hairy she is.

 

snUyxnpl.jpg


My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!


#10 Offline rbarreto - Posted August 13 2018 - 8:57 AM

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I decided to release her.


My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

Check our my store here!






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