Jump to content

  • Gallery
  • Members
  • Member Map
  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

I'm guessing Lasius.... Virginia 6/29

Started By FeedTheAnts , Jun 29 2020 5:24 PM

Best Answer Manitobant , June 29 2020 - 7:12 PM

Subgenus acanthomyops male. He took the wings off... Go to the full post


  • Please log in to reply
17 replies to this topic

#1 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted June 29 2020 - 5:24 PM

FeedTheAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,238 posts
  • LocationVirginia

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Virginia, USA
2. Date of collection: 6/29/2020
3. Habitat of collection: Back porch at a black light
4. Length (from head to gaster): 5-6mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Very dark brown
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Wings are not transparent
7. Distinguishing behavior: None
8. Nest description: None

9. Nuptial flight time and date: 9:00 PM -- 6/29/2020

 

I'm thinking Lasius. It looks kinda male-ish though, so maybe I'm just a newb lol. I hope these phone pics are good enough, my camera lens is broken.

 

IMG 5842
IMG 5845

Edited by FeedTheAnts, June 29 2020 - 5:25 PM.

I accidentally froze all my ants 

#2 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted June 29 2020 - 5:30 PM

RushmoreAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,532 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota
If it is Lasius, it’s a social parasite. I would appreciate some views of the side, in which the wings aren’t blocking the view.

"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

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans                                  Camponotus vicinus, modoc, novaeboracensis, herculeanus

Formica pallidefulva, argentea                        Solenopsis molesta

Formica cf. aserva                                          Lasius brevicornis, neoniger

Pheidole bicarinata

Lasius claviger

#3 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted June 29 2020 - 5:38 PM

FeedTheAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,238 posts
  • LocationVirginia

I've caught a few more, so I smashed one to see what it smells like. It smells like a grape flavored sucker if that helps.

 

IMG 5854

I accidentally froze all my ants 

#4 Offline Antkid12 - Posted June 29 2020 - 5:46 PM

Antkid12

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,009 posts
  • LocationFairfax, Virginia
I agree with lasius parasite.
  • FeedTheAnts likes this

Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 

#5 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted June 29 2020 - 5:50 PM

RushmoreAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 4,532 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota
Yeah, definitely parasitic queens. Maybe aphidicola? But they do look a little dark for that species.
  • FeedTheAnts likes this

"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

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans                                  Camponotus vicinus, modoc, novaeboracensis, herculeanus

Formica pallidefulva, argentea                        Solenopsis molesta

Formica cf. aserva                                          Lasius brevicornis, neoniger

Pheidole bicarinata

Lasius claviger

#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 29 2020 - 6:17 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 10,456 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA
Good ol’ parasitic Lasius. I’ve seen these on my black-light I think.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#7 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted June 29 2020 - 6:17 PM

FeedTheAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,238 posts
  • LocationVirginia

Should I introduce them to host workers now, or hibernate them first?


I accidentally froze all my ants 

#8 Offline AnthonyP163 - Posted June 29 2020 - 6:22 PM

AnthonyP163

    Vendor

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,006 posts
  • LocationWaukesha, Wisconsin.

Looks like a wingless wasp. Correct me if I'm wrong, but those antennae to not appear to have a bend.


  • VenomousBeast and MinigunL5 like this


Ant Keeping & Ethology Discord - 2000+ Members and growing

Statesideants.com - order live ants legally in the US

 

#9 Offline Manitobant - Posted June 29 2020 - 7:12 PM   Best Answer

Manitobant

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,921 posts
  • LocationWinnipeg, Canada
Subgenus acanthomyops male. He took the wings off...

Edited by Manitobant, June 29 2020 - 7:14 PM.

  • FeedTheAnts likes this
My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#10 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted June 30 2020 - 5:43 AM

FeedTheAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,238 posts
  • LocationVirginia

Subgenus acanthomyops male. He took the wings off...

I'm afraid you're right about it being a male. Yes, I did remove the wings myself for better viewing. They sure are the thickest males I've ever seen.


  • Manitobant likes this

I accidentally froze all my ants 

#11 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted June 30 2020 - 6:53 AM

Kaelwizard

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,852 posts
  • LocationPoway, California
That is not a male. It is a Lasius social parasite queen, most likely L. aphidicola. I see these all the time.

#12 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted June 30 2020 - 7:02 AM

FeedTheAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,238 posts
  • LocationVirginia

Look up acanthomyops male, it matches exactly.
 

That is not a male. It is a Lasius social parasite queen, most likely L. aphidicola. I see these all the time.

 
https://www.google.c...QAAAAAdAAAAABAD

Second from the left is a male


Edited by FeedTheAnts, June 30 2020 - 7:04 AM.

  • Manitobant likes this

I accidentally froze all my ants 

#13 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted June 30 2020 - 7:48 AM

Kaelwizard

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,852 posts
  • LocationPoway, California
Oh...

#14 Offline VenomousBeast - Posted June 30 2020 - 2:18 PM

VenomousBeast

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 352 posts
  • LocationButler, Butler County, Pennsylvania

This is definitely a species of wasp. It doesn't have the signature bend in the antenna that all ants have, along with that the head to body ratio is too big to be a male alate (and queen ants have their antenna bent)


Keeps:

1:Pogonomymex occidentalis

4: Tetramorium immigrans

2 Reticulitermes flavipes

#15 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted June 30 2020 - 2:53 PM

FeedTheAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,238 posts
  • LocationVirginia

This is definitely a species of wasp. It doesn't have the signature bend in the antenna that all ants have, along with that the head to body ratio is too big to be a male alate (and queen ants have their antenna bent)

I disagree. It is not a wasp. I know the pics aren't too good but In person it clearly is an ant. Look up Lasius males, it matches a few exactly.


I accidentally froze all my ants 

#16 Offline Zeiss - Posted June 30 2020 - 2:56 PM

Zeiss

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,231 posts
  • LocationFountain Valley

This is definitely a species of wasp. It doesn't have the signature bend in the antenna that all ants have, along with that the head to body ratio is too big to be a male alate (and queen ants have their antenna bent)

Males don't always have a noticeable bend in their antennae.  Some males have the elbow very close to their head which makes it unnoticeable.


  • FeedTheAnts, TennesseeAnts and Manitobant like this

#17 Offline VenomousBeast - Posted July 1 2020 - 6:05 AM

VenomousBeast

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 352 posts
  • LocationButler, Butler County, Pennsylvania

 

This is definitely a species of wasp. It doesn't have the signature bend in the antenna that all ants have, along with that the head to body ratio is too big to be a male alate (and queen ants have their antenna bent)

I disagree. It is not a wasp. I know the pics aren't too good but In person it clearly is an ant. Look up Lasius males, it matches a few exactly.

 

I've been looking at Lasius males all night  :lol: Upon relooking at your pictures, the top one, I can barely see the bend (but it's still there!!) The bottom one didn't do me any good :lol: . But, I can definitely say that is is a male alate and not a wasp!! Thank you for the humbling experience and pointing it out for me (y) I can't fully ID it due to not being able to count the antenna segments, but if you can provide that, I got you! 


  • FeedTheAnts and Antkid12 like this

Keeps:

1:Pogonomymex occidentalis

4: Tetramorium immigrans

2 Reticulitermes flavipes

#18 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted July 1 2020 - 6:26 AM

FeedTheAnts

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,238 posts
  • LocationVirginia

 

 

This is definitely a species of wasp. It doesn't have the signature bend in the antenna that all ants have, along with that the head to body ratio is too big to be a male alate (and queen ants have their antenna bent)

I disagree. It is not a wasp. I know the pics aren't too good but In person it clearly is an ant. Look up Lasius males, it matches a few exactly.

 

I've been looking at Lasius males all night  :lol: Upon relooking at your pictures, the top one, I can barely see the bend (but it's still there!!) The bottom one didn't do me any good :lol: . But, I can definitely say that is is a male alate and not a wasp!! Thank you for the humbling experience and pointing it out for me (y) I can't fully ID it due to not being able to count the antenna segments, but if you can provide that, I got you! 

 

I don't have them anymore, sorry. Once I knew they were males I wasn't too interested in an ID.


  • TennesseeAnts and VenomousBeast like this

I accidentally froze all my ants 

Back to Ant ID Requests · Next Unread Topic →


1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users