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Jensen Beach, Martin county, Florida (8/19/2019)


Best Answer NickAnter , August 23 2019 - 12:29 PM

No this is definitely Camponotus floridanus.  16mm is far to large for decipiens.  Also, the time period fits for floridanus, but not decipiens.

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#1 Offline Shifty189 - Posted August 22 2019 - 5:21 PM

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1. Location of collection Jensen Beach Florida. climbing the walls to get away from a large number of (fat) lizards. LOTS of males around.

2. Date of collection August 19th about 3PM. But i noticed her trying to hide at noon in the same spot. they have been flying for 2 or 3 days at this point i think
3. Habitat of collection In a town center. She was climbing the outside walls apparently trying to escape lizards and other predators. The building itself is an older building with wood frames and is known to have had a termite problem in the past.
4. Length 16mm
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture copper colored, with a darker gaster. in bright light the gaster appears to have bands.
6. Distinguishing characteristics She is a big girl! she is also keeping her wings after laying her first batch of eggs.
7. Anything else distinctive She wasn't trying to dig or anything when i found her. actually she was very very slow and inactive. She was also not trying to get to the ground, but might have been searching for a nest in the wood, or possibly just avoiding predators. Once i put her in a test tube set up she pulled at the cotton for the first day or two, then started laying eggs.
8. Nest description no idea

9. Nuptial flight time and date I don't know for a fact its the same kind of ant, but for about 3 or 4 days before (8/15 to 8/19) i noticed a large number of male ants flying in the area. This is the only queen i was able to find.

 

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#2 Offline ponerinecat - Posted August 22 2019 - 5:27 PM

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Camponotus sp. Color reminds me of castaneus, probably not.



#3 Offline PacificNorthWestern - Posted August 22 2019 - 5:30 PM

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i'm not an expert, but that looks like Camponotus Decipiens or Camponotus Floridanus


or Camponotus Discolor



#4 Offline Shifty189 - Posted August 22 2019 - 5:57 PM

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looks most like Camponotus decipiens to me, and thank you both for your reply.


Edited by Shifty189, August 22 2019 - 6:02 PM.


#5 Offline PacificNorthWestern - Posted August 22 2019 - 6:03 PM

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for sure, that's what were here for



#6 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 23 2019 - 12:29 PM   Best Answer

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No this is definitely Camponotus floridanus.  16mm is far to large for decipiens.  Also, the time period fits for floridanus, but not decipiens.


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). 


#7 Offline Shifty189 - Posted August 23 2019 - 12:35 PM

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Nick you just made my day! Floridanus is the species I have been hoping for since I started anting 😁

#8 Offline Aaron567 - Posted August 23 2019 - 1:34 PM

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Camponotus floridanus.


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