15 replies to this topic

[OhNoNotAgain]

Found this while looking up something else, and didn't see it posted before. It makes sense. Explains why Argentine ants execute so many queens in spring.

 

https://www.nature.c...598-019-46972-5

 

And here's a 1988 study on Argentine ants mating in the nest.

 

http://downloads.hin...1988/059259.pdf

[ANTdrew]

Equal parts fascinating and terrifying. I thank God every hard freeze we have because I don’t have to deal with these.

[TennesseeAnts]

Equal parts fascinating and terrifying. I thank God every hard freeze we have because I don’t have to deal with these.

I have to deal with them..... Not as common in Tennessee as they are elsewhere, but it's still annoying.

[gcsnelling]

Yeah, the south gets to deal with their only slightly less evil cousin Tapinoma sessile.

[TennesseeAnts]

They're basically the same thing as Argentines, just with different distribution and body shape.

[ANTdrew]

Yeah, the south gets to deal with their only slightly less evil cousin Tapinoma sessile.

This is true.

[ANTdrew]

Yeah, the south gets to deal with their only slightly less evil cousin Tapinoma sessile.

This is true.

The most prevalent invader I see here is Tetramorium immigrans. They only really dominate in highly disturbed areas. Ant diversity in my yard is still really high despite their presence.

[AntsDakota]

Ant diversity isn't very high in my area, unfortunately. 

 

Species likely to be found in your average Dakotan yard-

 

LOTS of Lasius (normal to parasitic 20:1, about)

LOTS of Solenopsis molesta (many colonies have multiple queens, and display impressive color variation and macrogyne/microgynes)

several competing colonies of various Formica species, most or all from the fusca group

maybe a Camponotus colony or two

a few Ponera colonies

in some areas a couple Tetramorium immigrans and tsushimae colonies

in my yard I found a couple Dorymyrmex cf. insanus colonies, not sure how common they are, extremely elusive

maybe a Brachymyrmex colony

maybe a colony or two of rarer species

[gcsnelling]

 

LOTS of Solenopsis molesta (many colonies have multiple queens, and display impressive color variation and macrogyne/microgynes)

several competing colonies of various Formica species, most or all from the fusca group

The Solenopsis are probably more than one species.

[ANTdrew]

Your diversity isn’t too bad, AntsDakota. I bet you could increase it even more by planting lots of native plants to basically rebuild the praerie.
Here’s what I’ve seen in my yard:
Crematogaster cerasi/ possibly other species
Camponotus chromaiodes
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Camponotus subbarbatus
Tapinoma sessile
Nylanderia bourbonica
Lasius claviger
Lasius neoniger
Monomorium minimum
Solenopsis molesta
Pheidole bicarinata
Tetramorium immigrans
Prenolepis imparis
Plus: Recticulitermes flavipes

[OhNoNotAgain]

That's awesome. I remember when I lived elsewhere and had a variety of ants. Now all that's in my yard (and in the walls of the house) is Linepithema humile.

[AntsDakota]

 

 

LOTS of Solenopsis molesta (many colonies have multiple queens, and display impressive color variation and macrogyne/microgynes)

several competing colonies of various Formica species, most or all from the fusca group

The Solenopsis are probably more than one species.

 

Then how come all color and size varieties all cooperate in the same setup together?  I do not recall several prevalent species of Solenopsis being recorded in South Dakota.

Edited by AntsDakota, January 12 2020 - 3:48 PM.

[AntsDakota]

Your diversity isn’t too bad, AntsDakota. I bet you could increase it even more by planting lots of native plants to basically rebuild the praerie.

Can't do it at the moment, though..... 

[ponerinecat]

When you're smack dab in the middle of argentine territory with nests under every 1 out of four rocks but you still find tons of natives

[gcsnelling]

I meant to write that what is currently being called Solenopsis molesta is probably a group of similar species which are all being called S. molesta. As far as what you may have I have no clue.

Edited by gcsnelling, January 13 2020 - 3:17 AM.

[AntsDakota]

I meant to write that what is currently being called Solenopsis molesta is probably a group of similar species which are all being called S. molesta. As far as what you may have I have no clue.

Ah, yes. It'll be interesting to see what they come out with... Perhaps Solenopsis dakotensis?