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Tiny Queen ID Alexandria, VA

Started By ANTdrew , May 24 2020 10:04 AM

Best Answer AntsBC , May 24 2020 - 10:55 AM

Nylanderia vividula would be my guess.  Photos aren't the greatest though, could be a different species.

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 24 2020 - 10:04 AM

ANTdrew

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I found this tiny queen at my blacklight last night. My hunch is Nylanderia, but I really have no clue

 

1. Alexandria, VA

2. Date: 5-23-2020

3. Habitat: Suburban native plant garden/ patio

4. Length: 4mm

5. Coloration: Dark brown head and gaster, red thorax

6. Distinguishing characteristics: Really tiny!

7.

8. ?

9. Nuptial flight time and date: 5-23-2020 at 9:45pm

 

These pock-marks on a paper towel can give you some scale, too:


Edited by ANTdrew, May 24 2020 - 10:05 AM.

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#2 Offline AntsBC - Posted May 24 2020 - 10:55 AM   Best Answer

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Nylanderia vividula would be my guess.  Photos aren't the greatest though, could be a different species.


My Active Journals:

 

Formica pacifica

Formica planipilis (Parasitic sp.)

 

Instagram // YouTube 

#3 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 24 2020 - 11:53 AM

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Thanks! Yeah I have an iPhone 5 and $10 clip on macro. There’s only so much I can do.
Nylanderia are fun ants to keep, right?
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#4 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 24 2020 - 2:50 PM

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Indeed! They grow super fast, and are super active. Crazy good climbers and excellent at squeezing through the tiniest gaps.


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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#5 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 24 2020 - 2:56 PM

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Indeed! They grow super fast, and are super active. Crazy good climbers and excellent at squeezing through the tiniest gaps.

Sounds like my kind of ant! I have experience stopping Crematogaster, so that will help. I will read your journal for research. Do you second the ID of N. vividula?
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#6 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 24 2020 - 3:01 PM

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Yes. I mean, you can't be 100 percent sure, but it looks almost exactly like my queen.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#7 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 24 2020 - 3:15 PM

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Yes. I mean, you can't be 100 percent sure, but it looks almost exactly like my queen.

Excellent! I hope she’s as prolific.
  • TennesseeAnts likes this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#8 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 27 2020 - 10:55 AM

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Bump! Any other opinions on this gal?
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.
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