13 replies to this topic

[BitT]

1. Location (on a map): Central Florida

2. Date of collection: Collected May 18, 2020

3. Habitat of collection: Sidewalk / street

4. Length: 7/32

5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Black or very dark brown? Looks like yellow/goldish stripes on gaster?

6. Distinguishing characteristics: Very angular antenna, varying gaster lengths between 6 queens with some looking kinda long while others look half the length.

7. Distinguishing behavior: N/A

8. Nest description: N/A

9. Nuptial flight time and date: May 18, 2020, found about 9:30 to 10AM-ish?

10. Post the clearest pictures: Attached file. Placed on white paper towel and wood desk to try and get details to show up

 

 

I collected 6 queens of whatever species this is, this one in the picture acts very sluggish and seems it might be injured? I don't see anything wrong with her but I'm worried I hurt her somehow. She's in a test tube with water now so hoping she was just dehydrated and will perk up.

 

 

Edit:

New pictures that has workers. Also caught some 05-26-2020 around the same time.

 

Edited by BitT, July 18 2020 - 6:34 PM.

[ponerinecat]

tapinoma or technomyrmex

actually on second thought maybe a formicine, idk tbh.

[NickAnter]

Either Brachymyrmex obscurior or patagonicus.

[TheMicroPlanet]

Looks dolichoderine to me. Dolichoderines seem to have cylindrical gasters a lot.

[VoidElecent]

Either Brachymyrmex obscurior or patagonicus.

 

Seconded.

[BitT]

All your suggestions were very helpful in my search, thank you three! After looking at your suggests I'm thinking these ladies may be closest to being Brachymyrmex obscurior / patagonicus which both are supposedly very common here in my state. But they do look like your other suggestions too. I may get a better idea once I get a few workers. But if they are Brachymyrmex I wonder if I need to put something in the test tube with them for the future larva to become pupa?
 

[ponerinecat]

Looks dolichoderine to me. Dolichoderines seem to have cylindrical gasters a lot.

Many of the smaller formicines have that too. Ex Lasius or Prenolepis.

[AntsDakota]

Dolichoderines seem to have cylindrical gasters a lot.

So does Brachymyrmex, and it's Formicinae. 

[Aaron567]

Definitely Brachymyrmex. If you found her during the day she has a good chance of being obscurior. When her first workers emerge, wait for their exoskeletons to darken. B. patagonicus will darken to fully black while obscurior workers will usually be a lighter brown color.

[MrKotter]

I'm in Central Florida as well and my son and I found around 60 Brachymyrmex patagonicus over the last few weeks.  Pretty sure that's what you have too.  We put them 3 to a typical tube setup and they're all laying. Last years' colonies the same and they did well, but they really nasty up the cotton and refuse to switch tubes until it totally dries out.  Finally coaxed them to switch by adding a tube setup that had dirt up against the water/cotton. Good luck!

[BitT]

Thank you everyone! And sorry for the really late reply!

 

 

Aaron567,

Interesting. I wonder since these queens look more brownish (though very dark to look almost black) if they are more likely to be obscurior? I guess to be sure I'll just have to wait for the workers.

 

MrKotter,

Hello fellow Floridian! Also, thanks for that suggestion. I have some other species refusing to move maybe I'll try the dirt thing with them. Thanks. ^^

This storm today though, did you see a load of queens flying? I sure did during lunch at work!

[TennesseeAnts]

Might be Brachymyrmex patagonicus.

[jushi]

Tapinoma sessile, or Brachymyrmex Patagonicus

[BitT]

Bump for edit with workers.