22 replies to this topic

[Formicoidea]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Length: 5mm

 

I am concerned that this is a Solenopsis Invicta worker. I have never seen them in real life so i don't want to say for certain.

I am in an area which has not had fire ants, so this would be pretty disastrous. 

 

If this is a worker i would either feed it some poison and release it, or contact some government pest control agency and send it to them as a specimen.

 

Sorry for using all caps. I know it is cringy af but i just wanted to ensure people would click on it.

Edited by Formicoidea, January 22 2020 - 7:38 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

I doubt it's S. invicta, but it does appear to be Solenopsis.

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, January 23 2020 - 4:35 AM.

[AnthonyP163]

You never told us where you live or any of the necessary info for an ID. 

[TennesseeAnts]

You never told us where you live or any of the necessary info for an ID.

He's in Australia.

[Formicoidea]

You never told us where you live or any of the necessary info for an ID. 

this is because this is not an area where Solenopsis Invicta are present. They should not exist here. However it is present in queensland, where we recently returned from holiday from.

I'm saying the location is not important and is deceptive.

[Martialis]

Vacation to where?

[Formicoidea]

Vacation to where?

Queensland, townsville and cairns specifically.

[AnthonyP163]

 

You never told us where you live or any of the necessary info for an ID. 

this is because this is not an area where Solenopsis Invicta are present. They should not exist here. However it is present in queensland, where we recently returned from holiday from.

I'm saying the location is not important and is deceptive.

 

If it is not Solenopsis, I cannot find an alternative because you will not tell me where it is found. It's basic ID template. You don't need to be extremely specific, just say which state it was found in. It doesn't appear to be Solenopsis. 

[Ferox_Formicae]

I'd say it's possibly Podomyrma if you're in Australia, but I may be wrong, as I'm not the best at Australian ant identification. It's definitely a Myrmicine though, probably a Crematogastrine.

[Formicoidea]

 

 

You never told us where you live or any of the necessary info for an ID. 

this is because this is not an area where Solenopsis Invicta are present. They should not exist here. However it is present in queensland, where we recently returned from holiday from.

I'm saying the location is not important and is deceptive.

 

If it is not Solenopsis, I cannot find an alternative because you will not tell me where it is found. It's basic ID template. You don't need to be extremely specific, just say which state it was found in. It doesn't appear to be Solenopsis. 

 

Very true, my apologies. It was found in NSW, far south coast.

[AnthonyP163]

 

 

 

You never told us where you live or any of the necessary info for an ID. 

this is because this is not an area where Solenopsis Invicta are present. They should not exist here. However it is present in queensland, where we recently returned from holiday from.

I'm saying the location is not important and is deceptive.

 

If it is not Solenopsis, I cannot find an alternative because you will not tell me where it is found. It's basic ID template. You don't need to be extremely specific, just say which state it was found in. It doesn't appear to be Solenopsis. 

 

Very true, my apologies. It was found in NSW, far south coast.

 

Thank you. I agree with Ferox_Formicae, I am guessing it is something along the lines of Podomyrma gratiosa.

Edited by AnthonyP163, January 22 2020 - 7:30 PM.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Thank you. I agree with Ferox_Formicae, I am guessing it is something along the lines of Podomyrma gratiosa.

 

 

Ah, that's what I was thinking too. However, take a look at the petiolar and postpetiolar nodes. They are far too tall for Podomyrma. It actually looks more like a Solenopsidine, but all of the Solenopsis in Queensland are of the Solenopsis fugax-group, and the only Monomorium I found to match was M. rothsteini, but in M. rothsteini the red is not as bright as is seen here and the color does not extend all the way to the postpetiole. Also, the femora in this ant seem way too wide. M. rubriceps would also be a good match, but it has two bright orange spots on either side of the connection point of the postpetiole and gaster on tergite I. This ant lacks such spots. I'm doing further research into this ant.

[Ferox_Formicae]

After looking at this for way longer than I should have, I have finally realized the species, and it was right in front of my (literally on a poster on my wall) this whole time...

It's Trichomyrmex destructor...

I feel like an idiot now...

[YsTheAnt]

After looking at this for way longer than I should have, I have finally realized the species, and it was right in front of my (literally on a poster on my wall) this whole time...
It's Trichomyrmex destructor...
I feel like an idiot now...

This ant is twice as large as Trichomyrmex destructor...

[Aaron567]

I vote Podomyrma. All Oceanian Solenopsis are tiny, yellow, and subterranean.

[Ferox_Formicae]

I vote Podomyrma. All Oceanian Solenopsis are tiny, yellow, and subterranean.

This is definitely not Podomyrma. Take a look at the petiolar nodes. Podomyrma does not have such large nodes. I still think this ant is in the tribe Solenopsidini.

[Martialis]

Yeah, Podomyrma seems likely. The nodes look appropriately sized to me, at least from the side.

I think the dorsal picture might be “distorted” due to the nodes being slightly closer to the viewer, leading to a perception that they’re bigger.

[Ferox_Formicae]

If it is Podomyrma, than it's Podomyrma gratiosa.

[Manitobant]

I'm thinking monomorium Rothsteini. It looks exactly like this ant.

[Ferox_Formicae]

I'm thinking monomorium Rothsteini. It looks exactly like this ant.

You may be right. However, the build seems to be a bit more robust in this ant, and the femur on the 2nd and 3rd pair of legs is greatly swollen, leading to the appearance of Podomyrma. However, Monomorium rothsteini does seem to have slightly swollen femora, and it is possible that the angle of these photos make the femora look larger.

 

Also, just as a heads up, I was really tired last night, so my ID of Trichomyrmex destructor was WAY off. Please forgive me for that.