15 replies to this topic

[Chromerust]

1. Location of collection: Riverside California
2. Date of collection: April, 4 2015 1:45 PM
3. Habitat of collection: Sidewalk of rural area
4. Length (from head to gaster): 10-11 mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Brown and Black, Silervery black gaster
6. Temp: 80-83 Sunny, No previous rain

[dspdrew]

That's the Myrmecocystus I have been trying to find forever. I think I can see her palps, and it wouldn't be any other Myrmecocystus.

 

That's awesome man!

[Gregory2455]

Why does it look like there are mites on her? Or is that just the lighting? She looks like Formica or Myrmecocystus.

[Chromerust]

Why does it look like there are mites on her? Or is that just the lighting? She looks like Formica or Myrmecocystus.

Haha that's pretty impressive G nothing gets past you brother. That is Cheetos cheese because a bag was all I had to catch it in.

[dspdrew]

It ain't easy bein' cheesy.

[dspdrew]

Okay, I saw better profile pictures of this, and it's Formica. I have no idea what species if it's not F. francoeuri. I'm also not sure why it would have flown now.

[Miles]

I was gonna say, I'm almost positive this is a Formica queen. She probably overwintered and went out looking for a new home, or was forced out, as suggested by her lack thereof her front right leg.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, what's weird is she doesn't match the only two Formica species I have ever seen around here. Where on Earth did she come from?

[Miles]

Yeah, what's weird is she doesn't match the only two Formica species I have ever seen around here. Where on Earth did she come from?

Formica seem to have a way of hiding that shouldn't be possible for a large formicine. I find species new to me all the time.

Edited by Miles, April 4 2015 - 5:04 PM.

[dspdrew]

If it was a worker I hadn't seen yet, I wouldn't be as surprised. Finding a queen like this from one of the common species around here would be surprising enough already, but a queen from some species I haven't seen here yet? Strange...

[Chromerust]

I found it on the concrete right in front of a quickie mart entrance. I can't image this queen getting there any other way except landing. Tomorrow I will go to where I think these formica are and look for founding chambers. Stay tuned.

[Miles]

I found it on the concrete right in front of a quickie mart entrance. I can't image this queen getting there any other way except landing. Tomorrow I will go to where I think these formica are and look for founding chambers. Stay tuned.

Sounds like you underestimate them. I have found queens quite literally anywhere. Even in a school locker room shower (she came from outside).

Edited by Miles, April 4 2015 - 9:12 PM.

[dspdrew]

Here's some better pictures.

 

 

 

 

[dspdrew]

After seeing the new pictures, James C. Trager says this is most likely F. aerata.

 

Now I'm wondering how many times I have ID'd F. aerata as F. francoeuri. I originally decided to go with F.moki on this one since it was clearly not hairy enough for F. francoeuri, but these pictures show too much hair for F. moki.

[Foogoo]

After seeing the new pictures, James C. Trager says this is most likely F. aerata.

 

Now I'm wondering how many times I have ID'd F. aerata as F. francoeuri. I originally decided to go with F.moki on this one since it was clearly not hairy enough for F. francoeuri, but these pictures show too much hair for F. moki.

 

What differentiates F. aerata from F. francoeuri?

[dspdrew]

I really don't know anything about F. aerata, so for me to answer that I would have to just read the descriptions. But one thing I do know is F. francoeuri is probably the hairiest Formica around here. James C. Trager could probably answer this question pretty easily.