154 replies to this topic

[ForestDragon]

Gcsnelling said that they apparently do not occur in Cali. However, the species is unknown, because the types are lost. Maybe there are multiple versions of S. molesta?

I think you probably found a subspecies if one dies get it sent in for dna testing with a normal molesta you found

[ponerinecat]

More evidence is that the short abdomen one was killed by another short abdomen one, long abdomen killed by a short abdomen. Short abdomens attacked other queens and had to be separated.

[NickAnter]

Max length is?

Gcsnelling said that they apparently do not occur in Cali. However, the species is unknown, because the types are lost. Maybe there are multiple versions of S. molesta?

I preserved two queens. One's abdomen was greatly distended, one was not. Both were at max length.

[NickAnter]

Here is an absolutely dismal pic of the size discrepancy:

[ponerinecat]

Max length is?

 

Gcsnelling said that they apparently do not occur in Cali. However, the species is unknown, because the types are lost. Maybe there are multiple versions of S. molesta?

I preserved two queens. One's abdomen was greatly distended, one was not. Both were at max length.

 

distended one maybe 2-2.5 mm, short one 1 mm

[NickAnter]

I meant max length of the queen, what is it?

[ponerinecat]

I meant max length of the queen, what is it?

I'm not sure. I don't have the specimens anymore. They were pretty much the same size in terms of bodies, just some were slightly longer. 

[NickAnter]

The Eastern Sierra verision has well over 100 eggs. They have multiple batches of over 50 eggs. A SoCal molesta might have larvae, but I am not sure.

[NickAnter]

A SoCal molesta has 4th instar larvae!  She only has three, but some is better than none!!  She should have nanitics in a week or so.

[NickAnter]

Well, one of the Eastern Sierra queens was beheaded.  I woke up to find the murderer trying to tear off the thorax too!   Maybe the victim was infertile,  also, I was way off on my egg estimate.  They have 200 or more!!

[NickAnter]

One egg pile. They have another one that is larger than this.
You can see the victim in the background....

[NickAnter]

A second queen was killed. It seems as though one egg pile was fertile, and one was not. The one queen is tending about 10 larvae now, along with about 50 eggs. The fertile socal molesta has a pupa, larvae, and laid another batch of eggs.

[Mdrogun]

Multiple species of ants are observed to have macrogynes and microgynes. Solenopsis geminata for example, is one such species. This could be what you are seeing here, although I definitely agree multiple species of thief ant are under the taxonomic name of Solenopsis molesta. So..... Flip a coin? 

[NickAnter]

Well, if all goes well, I should have two large colonies by next year, to compare behavior, and appearance. These in cold areas definetly hibernate right?

[NickAnter]

The socal molesta has a worker!!!! ES molesta has thirteen medium larvae.

[AntsDakota]

Well, if all goes well, I should have two large colonies by next year, to compare behavior, and appearance. These in cold areas definetly hibernate right?

I've heard that all Solenopsis don't require hibernation. They simply tough out the cold, and will readily accept warm conditions in the winter.

The socal molesta has a worker!!!! ES molesta has thirteen medium larvae.

My queens have pupae.... 

[NickAnter]

Cool. I will put them in hibernation for a couple days as a test, when all workers hatch.

[NickAnter]

Socal molesta has two workers, and two pupae. The ES molesta has almost all pupae now.

[NickAnter]

Found a monomorium queen in my pool! Hopefully she is fertile. Oh and the Socal molesta has three workers now.

Edited by NickAnter, September 15 2019 - 5:24 PM.

[NickAnter]

Socal molesta: 4 workers, had five, but drowned in honey.  Queen is so bloated that she has increased in size more than a milimeter,  She can barely walk now.  She has become as large in length as the ES molesta.  Speaking of which, she has a darkening pupa...