13 replies to this topic

[CatsnAnts]

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Jasper, Indiana, U.S.
2. Date of collection: 7/5/2020 (sorry, had 7/4/2020, meant 7/5/2020)
3. Habitat of collection: Collected near a forest while running across a stone
4. Length (from head to gaster): 4.5 mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Dull Black on all surfaces
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Looks like a miniature Tetramorium queen
7. Distinguishing behavior: None
8. Nest description: None
9. Nuptial flight time and date: Found tonight around 8:00 P.M. (Temp. was 88 D. Fahrenheit, Humidity was 57%)

I’m pretty sure it’s M. americana (It’s not), but I would like clarification. I’ve never really attempted to raise these queens before, so if anybody knows what to do please share (or I can just look through past journals of other people). Here’s some pictures (I can get better lighting tomorrow morning if need be):





For size comparison, she’s the same size as my Temnothorax curvispinosus queens.

Edited by CatsnAnts, July 5 2020 - 5:33 PM.

[Kaelwizard]

Aphaenogaster. Way too bulky to be Myrmecina. I have seen plenty of these queens in colonies that I have found.

[CatsnAnts]

Aphaenogaster. Way too bulky to be Myrmecina. I have seen plenty of these queens in colonies that I have found.

What species though? We don’t have any Aphaenogaster sp. this small around here (or so I thought). I just caught an Aphenogaster fulva queen a few days ago and she was twice the size of this queen. Now I’m confused

Edited by CatsnAnts, July 5 2020 - 4:48 PM.

[AntsDakota]

Looks like A. picea.

[CatsnAnts]

Looks like A. picea.

Seems about right. I never know which species to look for because Antweb’s page for Indiana is really incomplete.

EDIT: Nevermind, it’s not A. picea. My queen is only 4.5 mm, and this species is around 7 mm, which I don’t know of any Aphaenogaster species that have a queen of that size.

SIZE COMPARISON: She’s the same size as my Temnothorax curvispinosus queens.

Edited by CatsnAnts, July 5 2020 - 4:58 PM.

[Aaron567]

If she's that small then I'd say it's Temnothorax pergandei, a species that is somewhat known for looking very unusual compared to other continental North American Temnothorax. They really do look like miniature Aphaenogaster queens.

[Kaelwizard]

Interesting species.

[AntsDakota]

Looks like this species nests in soil as well. Aren't most Temnothorax attracted to twigs, logs, and nuts? I know pergandei is as well, but I just haven't heard of other Temnothorax nesting in soil commonly.

[CatsnAnts]

Looks like this species nests in soil as well. Aren't most Temnothorax attracted to twigs, logs, and nuts? I know pergandei is as well, but I just haven't heard of other Temnothorax nesting in soil commonly.

It’s not exactly that they would dig in the soil (that I know of), but can find small cavities present within the soil as well.

[VoidElecent]

T. pergandei strikes again! Nice catch

[TennesseeAnts]

Temnothorax pergandei for sure. I have 2 colonies of these gals. Really cool ants.

[CatsnAnts]

T. pergandei strikes again! Nice catch

It doesn’t seem like queens of this species are found too often, so I’m pretty excited to say the least!

Temnothorax pergandei for sure. I have 2 colonies of these gals. Really cool ants.

Do you by chance have a journal for them? I didn’t notice them in your collective journal, unless I missed it .

[TennesseeAnts]

T. pergandei strikes again! Nice catch

It doesn’t seem like queens of this species are found too often, so I’m pretty excited to say the least!

Temnothorax pergandei for sure. I have 2 colonies of these gals. Really cool ants.

Do you by chance have a journal for them? I didn’t notice them in your collective journal, unless I missed it .

Yeah, I never added them to my journal.

[CatsnAnts]

T. pergandei strikes again! Nice catch

It doesn’t seem like queens of this species are found too often, so I’m pretty excited to say the least!

Temnothorax pergandei for sure. I have 2 colonies of these gals. Really cool ants.

Do you by chance have a journal for them? I didn’t notice them in your collective journal, unless I missed it .

Yeah, I never added them to my journal.

Well then, chop chop!