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Nest collection, Michigan, 2019-5-29
Started By
Polyacanthus
, May 29 2019 5:33 PM
18 replies to this topic
#1 Offline - Posted May 29 2019 - 5:33 PM
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
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
#2 Offline - Posted May 29 2019 - 5:39 PM
Pictures may help.
Billy
Currently keeping:
Camponotus chromaiodes
Camponotus castaneus
Formica subsericea
#3 Offline - Posted May 29 2019 - 5:44 PM
This is great, but first and foremost we need measurements and preferably, pictures.
#4 Offline - Posted May 29 2019 - 5:56 PM
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
IMG_20190529_205727033
IMG_20190529_214904981
#5 Offline - Posted May 29 2019 - 6:06 PM
Definitely Formica, a parasitic species at that going off of the queen's proportions.
Currently Keeping:
Camponotus chromaiodes, Camponotus nearcticus, Stigmatomma pallipes, Strumigenys brevisetosa, Strumigenys clypeata, Strumigenys louisianae, Strumigenys membranifera, Strumigenys reflexa, Strumigenys rostrata
#6 Offline - Posted May 29 2019 - 6:17 PM
I would say workers are 6.5mm, queen is 9mm.
#7 Offline - Posted May 29 2019 - 7:47 PM
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.
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.
#8 Offline - Posted May 30 2019 - 9:40 AM
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 )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 CatsnAnts, May 30 2019 - 9:40 AM.
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#9 Offline - Posted May 30 2019 - 9:53 AM
#10 Offline - Posted May 30 2019 - 1:26 PM
Quite sure of the measurements. They are in a clear plastic container to which I held a ruler.
#12 Offline - Posted May 30 2019 - 1:55 PM
#14 Offline - Posted May 30 2019 - 2:45 PM
I agree with rbarreto.
Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies.
However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:
Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant).
#15 Offline - Posted May 30 2019 - 4:02 PM
#16 Offline - Posted May 30 2019 - 4:04 PM
Yeah Formica cf. pallidefullva.
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#17 Offline - Posted May 30 2019 - 6:49 PM
@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.
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.
#18 Offline - Posted May 31 2019 - 5:13 AM
Could be formica neorufibarbis but I'm not 100% sure
My journals:
Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/
Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/
#19 Offline - Posted May 31 2019 - 11:18 AM
queens head is so small
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