33 replies to this topic

[B_rad0806]

haha funny story, so this was like my first year of anting. I was pretty young and dumb at the time. I was on a walk with my family when I saw a queen. Well I remember the queen being all yellow and the first thing that comes to mind it Myrmecocystus Mexicanus. The problem was that I had no tube on me so I was just going to pick it up in my hand and walk back home. Well here's where the stupid part comes. My mom was next to me and said it was a FIRE ANT queen. I don't know why but I listened to her. Either way if I did it probably would have died. The weird part is that I've never seen a colony in my area before, not even now.

[AntsDakota]

Yeah, most abundant Camponotus by a country mile. I love ‘em.

Here Camponotus aren't that abundant at all. 

[Ants_Dakota]

Unfortunately, that is true.

[AntsExodus]

Holy cow guys! I just found a huge Proceratium colony! They have multiple queens and are extremely small. It was my first time seeing them so it was really cool. It looks like they are smaller than Solenopsis molesta workers! Sadly I did not collected them but now I realize that the "majors" where actually queens upon research. Are Proceratium polygenous? They where under this huge rock and next to some claviger workers so that also makes me conclude they are subterranean.

Edited by AntsExodus, May 8 2020 - 6:25 PM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Holy cow guys! I just found a huge Proceratium colony! They have multiple queens and are extremely small. It was my first time seeing them so it was really cool. It looks like they are smaller than Solenopsis molesta workers! Sadly I did not collected them but now I realize that the "majors" where actually queens upon research. Are Proceratium polygenous? They where under this huge rock and next to some claviger workers so that also makes me conclude they are subterranean.

Umm. Proceratium are not smaller than Solenopsis molesta. Those might have been Strumigenys. Couple we see pics?

[AntsExodus]

I did not take any sadly but I will return to the place tomorrow and take some macro shots with my new camera!

[Ferox_Formicae]

Yeah, the smallest Proceratium in Georgia (silaceum and crassicorne) are both 2.5 mm in length. Solenopsis molesta and its relatives are between 1 and 2 mm. I doubt they would be be Strumigenys, and Discothyrea are not polygynous, but perhaps Brachymyrmex depilis? I would definitely need photos to get an ID on them.

[AntsDakota]

Proceratium silaceum and crassicorne. Solenopsis molesta  Strumigenys,  perhaps Brachymyrmex depilis? I would definitely need photos to get an ID on them.

We must really be clueless. We can't even narrow it down to a single subfamily.

[ponerinecat]

Stigmatomma, only ever seen males, Pseudomyrmex, only queen died, and Platytherea, saw one worker in China. Also saw some interesting Odontomachus, Ectomomyrmex, Pristomyrmex, and a small unidentified poneromorph in the soil, possible a Leptanilla worker.

[ponerinecat]

Holy cow guys! I just found a huge Proceratium colony! They have multiple queens and are extremely small. It was my first time seeing them so it was really cool. It looks like they are smaller than Solenopsis molesta workers! Sadly I did not collected them but now I realize that the "majors" where actually queens upon research. Are Proceratium polygenous? They where under this huge rock and next to some claviger workers so that also makes me conclude they are subterranean.

Brilliant deduction, not like their subterranean lifestyle is noted on every source about them. Semi-joking. Also, there is no way they're smaller than solen molesta. I'm guessing they're something else. Proceratium in general also have very small colonies and are rarely polygyne, as the ants themselves are so rare queens rarely get together let alone survive. The habitat does fit though, they seem to like deep set rocks.

[ponerinecat]

Stigmatomma, only ever seen males, Pseudomyrmex, only queen died, and Platytherea, saw one worker in China. Also saw some interesting Odontomachus, Ectomomyrmex, Pristomyrmex, and a small unidentified poneromorph in the soil, possible a Leptanilla worker.

Oh yeah, and also Cyphomyrmex wheeleri and Stenamma.

[TennesseeAnts]

I think I found the Proceratium colony...

[Temperateants]

Pheidole. They are fairly rare up in New England. There was a massive pheidole nest in my yard I discovered when flipping rocks, and I was bitten by several majors. They moved away after that.

[AntsExodus]

The colony I found was actually Solenopsis carolinses and I've actually never seen them before in my life until that moment. Going to keep one of those queens with me!