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Ant Genera and Subfamilies


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13 replies to this topic

#1 Offline M_Ants - Posted June 4 2020 - 12:27 PM

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How do you familiarize yourself with all ant genuses? I thought a pheidole queen was a fire ant.  :facepalm:I want to be less of a newb.


Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about


#2 Offline ponerinecat - Posted June 4 2020 - 12:49 PM

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Browse around on sites like antweb and antwiki. there's really nothing to it other than doing some research.


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#3 Offline Froggy - Posted June 4 2020 - 12:55 PM

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I am a noob too lol, Pheidole do look a lot like Solonopsis queens though, a lot of ID's have to do with small details like hairs, thorax shape, petiole shape and number, antennae segments, gaster shape and segments, etc. so you kinda just gotta research the species in your area and look for differences



#4 Offline ponerinecat - Posted June 4 2020 - 1:21 PM

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You don't need to pay attention to small things to get a genus level ID (usually) Look at the body shape. Pheidole are flat, blocky, squared off. Solenopsis are round, oval shaped, smooth.


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#5 Offline PurdueEntomology - Posted June 4 2020 - 1:36 PM

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Get real specimens, make sure they are properly identified to subfamily or genus then pay attention to the genera.  If you have your specimens and a good subfamily key you can see the "major" and "delimiting"characters for each subfamily and genus.  It takes time and an eye for detail. Good luck!!


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#6 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted June 5 2020 - 7:27 AM

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Size and color are the best way to determine a genus. I have misidentified many ants over the phone when I do not get the size.

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

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Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)


#7 Offline steam_funk - Posted June 10 2020 - 2:48 PM

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Pheidole and Solenopsis are very similar especially the queens. There are thousands of ant species ,but they occupy the whole globe. If you live in a northern area you could probably get familiar with the ones in you area in a few hours of google. If you live in a tropical area you could still learn a lot about the more common ones in very little time.



#8 Offline gcsnelling - Posted June 10 2020 - 2:53 PM

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Study, study, study.


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#9 Offline ponerinecat - Posted June 10 2020 - 3:26 PM

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Size and color are the best way to determine a genus. I have misidentified many ants over the phone when I do not get the size.

Its almost never good to use color. Size is alright, but many species among a genus or even individuals among a species vary a lot in size.


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#10 Offline gcsnelling - Posted June 10 2020 - 3:31 PM

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Color sucks


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#11 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted June 10 2020 - 4:05 PM

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Color sucks


It really does...

#12 Offline AntsDakota - Posted June 10 2020 - 4:05 PM

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Size and color are the best way to determine a genus. I have misidentified many ants over the phone when I do not get the size.

Not true at all. Not all 5 mm black ants are Formica. Could most certainly be Camponotuts (Myrmentoma) sp. And what about telling apart Lasius and Nylanderia? Generally same size and color. Some Tetramorium and Pheidole look similar. What about Temnothorax and Solenopsis molesta? Here's some more:

 

Aphaenogaster/Myrmica

Polyergus/Formica

Dorymyrmex/Tapinoma

Ponera/Hypoponera

Acromyrmex/Atta

Prenolepis/Myrmecocystus

 

These could all be confused by beginners.


Edited by AntsDakota, June 10 2020 - 4:09 PM.

"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version


#13 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted June 10 2020 - 4:06 PM

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You really just have to familiarize yourself with the ants in your area via trial and error, and eventually you'll get really good at telling them apart. Try browsing Formiculture ID threads, BugGuide, iNaturalist, etc, and post on here if you have any questions. Antwiki/Antmaps is good for trial and error; look at all the different genera in your state and see which ones look like what you have. 


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Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis


#14 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted June 10 2020 - 4:09 PM

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A good tip for telling apart Camponotus and FormicaCamponotus have one hump on the thorax, and Formica have two. Camponotus minors can also be recognized by their somewhat rectangular head, whereas Formica usually have more triangular heads.


Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis





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