9 replies to this topic

[AntGuySA]

 

1. Location of collection: yard and driveway, Durban South Africa
2. Date of collection: 2nd or 3rd of December 2014
3. Habitat of collection: cement driveway and sand with grass patches
4. Length (from head to gaster):5 or 6 mm 
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: black head, thorax, gaster and single petiole with brown antenna, legs and 3 rings around gaster  
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 
7. Anything else distinctive: there is a worker group and major group
8. Nest description: I have lots of them in my garden can post a picture below

 

 

 

 

Sorry about the coffee cup mess and I hope that the pictures are not to bad my cam is over 8 years old, thanks for all help in advanced.

 

Regards, AntGuySA

Edited by AntGuySA, February 25 2015 - 1:39 PM.

[Jonathan21700]

They look like a Pheidole sp.

[antmaniac]

I think they are Pheidole. What is that insect you fed them in the picture?

[Jonathan21700]

To me it look like a termite king or queen.

Edited by Jonathan21700, February 25 2015 - 2:10 PM.

[Gregory2455]

They look like Pheidole as said above. Is that a termit you are feeding them?

[AntGuySA]

Yes that was a termit from there flight the other night I caught a few and froze them, I have lots of subterranean termits here but they are small until flights

 

 

I think you`s are right on Pheidole I have just google`d them now, they like insects more then sweet things, but I try give them a choice as well, thank you to all who helped ID my babies.

 

Regards, AntGuySA

[Gregory2455]

You can mark this thread solved.

[AntGuySA]

Thanks Gregory2455

 

still new here   and thanks.

 

Regards, AntGuySA

[Gregory2455]

By the way I think the specific species is Pheidole megacephala, an invasive species to South Africa.

[AntGuySA]

Hi Gregory2455

 

Yeah these little critters are king in my garden I have so many its scary they are now starting to climb in the garage walls and I will have to sort that out before it gets really bad, I treat my garden where my strawberries and fruit trees are but let them run wild in the grass and beds I don`t use, they clean a lot of the small messes the kids drop and the dead insects like grass hoppers and even geckos the cats leave behind, either way this species is hard core invaders, thanks for all the help.

 

P.s the males I found during nuptial-flight were black as the queen just small heads.

 

 

Regards, AntGuySA

Edited by AntGuySA, March 2 2015 - 1:27 AM.