18 replies to this topic

[Polyacanthus]

These ants are in an untended garden area in the backyard near the house. They have a nest underneath a scrap of vinyl siding laying flat on the ground. I lifted it up to find a good size colony of workers underneath. Then I noticed a queen with them so I went in to grab my aspirator. I was surprised she was still there when I returned. I collected the queen and half a dozen workers before I quit due to breathing in their formic acid! Yuck! I'm new at this

They are brown and reddish. They seem a little smaller than a carpenter ant. Slimmer bodies. I have followed the antwiki key to North America genera but having a hard time discerning features having not studied too many ants yet.

http://www.antwiki.o...a_of_Formicinae

1. Antenna 12 segmented- not Acropyga or Brachymyrmex
2. Antenna sockets adjacent to the posterior clypeal margin- not Camponotus
3. Mandible not sickle-shaped- not Polyergus
4. Maxillary palpi long but segment 4 not longer than 5+6- not Myrmecocystus
5. Hard to determine. Seems like Formica.

That's as far as I've gotten. Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction, maybe tell me what's common around mid Michigan?

Thanks

[Acutus]

Pictures may help.

[VoidElecent]

This is great, but first and foremost we need measurements and preferably, pictures.

[Polyacanthus]

You guys are quick on the draw! Was working on pics. Sorry all I have is my cell phone and an old microscope.

IMG_20190529_205727033

IMG_20190529_214904981

[Ferox_Formicae]

Definitely Formica, a parasitic species at that going off of the queen's proportions.

[Polyacanthus]

I would say workers are 6.5mm, queen is 9mm.

[Polyacanthus]

From what I'm reading, could be Formica neogagates? Sounds like they like to nest under stones. Not seeing info on size though.

If they were parasitic wouldn't they need other colonies around to raid? Honestly I've never seen another colony around here (in a city neighborhood) with ants like this.

Edited by Polyacanthus, May 29 2019 - 7:55 PM.

[CatsnAnts]

From what I'm reading, could be Formica neogagates? Sounds like they like to nest under stones. Not seeing info on size though.

If they were parasitic wouldn't they need other colonies around to raid? Honestly I've never seen another colony around here (in a city neighborhood) with ants like this.

I’m gonna say that it’s not Formica neogagates, I’ve had that species in the past, and the gaster is way to small, I’m going to agree with a parasitic Formica species, although better pictures are probably need to identify (congrats though, looks like a nice little colony )

Edited by CatsnAnts, May 30 2019 - 9:40 AM.

[rbarreto]

Doesnt look like any parasitic formica I know of. We need better pictures and how sure are you of those measurements?

Edited by rbarreto, May 30 2019 - 9:55 AM.

[Polyacanthus]

Quite sure of the measurements. They are in a clear plastic container to which I held a ruler.

[rbarreto]

Does the queen have a pattern on her thorax or is it all black?

[Polyacanthus]

They are skittish and take off running when I touch the container, but apparently they aren't too traumatized since they already have a bundle of eggs.





I will try to find out @rbarreto

[rbarreto]

They look like they're from the pallidefulva group but I'm not too sure.

[NickAnter]

I agree with rbarreto.

[Polyacanthus]

Here is where I found them:



And underneath:

[TennesseeAnts]

Yeah Formica cf. pallidefullva.

[Polyacanthus]

@rbarreto I don't see any pattern, just brown.

If palledifulva group would you say this is a parasite queen or natural? Like I said I was quite surprised to lift the siding and see the queen just hanging out there on top in a group just like the pic.

Here is a worker out in the sunlight.

Edited by Polyacanthus, May 30 2019 - 6:55 PM.

[Manitobant]

Could be formica neorufibarbis but I'm not 100% sure

[ponerinecat]

queens head is so small