Riverside, CA, USA
6/30/2019
Body:
1. Location of collection: Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park, Riverside, CA, USA. They were located about 1,000 feet from the nature center, each within 150 feet of each other along the pathway.
2. Date of collection: 6/29/2019, at about 8:30pm.
3. Habitat of collection: desert scrub and wild grass.
4. Length: 7mm to 8mm
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Red head and thorax, with a darker gaster. Gaster looks like it has 3 dark bands around it, they are thicker on the top than underneath the gaster. Has hair on most or all of it’s body, need better pictures to tell. Definately 2petiole.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 2 petiole making up it’s waist. Similar in looks to Solenopsis molesta, but deeper red. Possibly in the solenopsis species?
7. Anything else distinctive: Nothing that I have the skills to notice at this time.
8. Nest description: I never found it’s nest. I have been to this site frequently, I watch a nest of pogonomyrmex there. I have never come across what I believe to be their nest. I’ll look more now, when I am in that area.
9. Nuptial flight time and date: Nuptial flight is unknown, however all the queens had already shed their wings, except one and she appeared to be attemping that when I spotted her. Perhaps the flight was the previous day, or that morning.
