5 replies to this topic

[AntGuySA]

1. Location of collection: Durban South Africa, Back of yard.
2. Date of collection: 27/02/15
3. Habitat of collection: wet grass and on a embankment, they were pouring out of a hole just as the rain was starting to drop.
4. Length (from head to gaster): 3mm queen, workers are about half her length.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: pure black
6. Distinguishing characteristics: the workers all have 1 class and they run around like crazy
7. Anything else distinctive: I have seen that the Pheidole sp that rules my yard does not mind them unless to close to there burrow entrance, also there gasters are much larger, also more pointer and two set`s of legs point backwards and one forward and the Pheidole sp I have has two set`s pointing forward and one backwards, also the heads are smaller.

8. Nest description: 

 

Ok here they are just after I caught them

 

 

 

This is where I first spotted them, they are a darker black then my Pheidole sp

 

 

Then I saw this little bugger not sure if it was stolen from the Pheidole sp or they were just moving at the time.

 

 

I then started to look along the grassy area and found a small marching army, you have to zoom in a bit to see them.

 

 

And traced them to these small holes there were about 3 or 4 of them, they were rushing out like on a big mission, I by chance saw the queen and scooped her up with 4 workers and a few larva, they were doing ok, late last nightI opened the tub to find her dead and the workers were frantic I released them this morning and tried to take some more pictures of the queen.

 

 

 I am so sad she is dead but I will look for another as soon as the rain stops here.

 

 

Thanks for reading and I hope the picture are ok for Id`ing.

 

Regards, AntGuySA

Edited by AntGuySA, March 2 2015 - 1:04 AM.

[Ra3MaN]

Looks similar to my Lipisota caspensis queen I used to have. I very well may be it. 

 

 

I found a huge colony with multiple queens in 2013 

 

I have seen that ant all over in CPT and PTA

 

Regards 

 

Ra3MaN

[AntGuySA]

Hi Ra3MaN

 

Wow yeah that`s the same species and very nice pictures I must say they look a lot bigger in your picture but still same shape of gaters, may I ask does this species cocoon? in this picture it looks like 1 ant is carrying a cocooned baby? If so I can say confirmed? 

 

Regards, AntGuySA 

Edited by AntGuySA, March 2 2015 - 7:03 AM.

[Ra3MaN]

Yes, this species of ant does cocoon. The ant only looks big because I cropped the image but it was about the same size. I released these ants because they were too much for me to manage.

[James C. Trager]

Hard to see much in the photos, but most likely a Lepisiota species. (Note correct spelling of this name.)

[AntGuySA]

Hi everyone

 

Yes, this species of ant does cocoon. The ant only looks big because I cropped the image but it was about the same size. I released these ants because they were too much for me to manage.

 

Yeah they seem way more active then my pheidole and almost run around like crazy ants, I must get me a new queen   thanks for the Id buddy

 

Hard to see much in the photos, but most likely a Lepisiota species. (Note correct spelling of this name.)

 

 

Yeah I know sorry about that again I am trying hard with this old camera of mine, it was a raining day so no natural light I will try harder in the future, thanks for reading.

 

Regards, AntGuySA