10 replies to this topic

[EEParker]

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Dabney, AR https://www.google.c...abney, AR 72080
2. Date of collection: 7/4/2020
3. Habitat of collection: Oak tree bark
4. Length (from head to gaster): 7.5 mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:  solid brown, light er on legs and gaster.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 
7. Distinguishing behavior: Not very active 
8. Nest description: Saw workers that looked similar under the bark of a nearby oak tree

9. Nuptial flight time and date: ??

 

 

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Edited by EEParker, July 6 2020 - 8:17 PM.

[ponerinecat]

Aphaenogaster

[TechAnt]

Aphenogaster as well.

[YsTheAnt]

Likely Aphaenogaster rudis, or one of the similar species such as A. texana and A. carolenensis. A. carolenensis is identical to A. rudis, and is only different genetically. A. texana has slightly longer spines than the other two species, but I can't really tell how long the spines are from the angle of those images. Their care should be the same though.

[EEParker]

Likely Aphaenogaster rudis, or one of the similar species such as A. texana and A. carolenensis. A. carolenensis is identical to A. rudis, and is only different genetically. A. texana has slightly longer spines than the other two species, but I can't really tell how long the spines are from the angle of those images. Their care should be the same though.

That lines up with my amature research. I spent a couple hours on antwiki, antmaps and antweb looking at all the images and measurements. Basically I narrowed it down to

 

A. rudis, A. carolinensis, A. picea or A. fulva, but I don't know enough about relative distribution or rarity to make a call. Here are some more images, I couldn't get her to turn full profile and didn't want to disturb her too much. She did eat a honey drop, but otherwise isn't moving around very much.

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[Aaron567]

Good ol' Aphaenogaster carolinensis/rudis complex. 

[EEParker]

You know, until my kids asked for an ant colony and I wanted to do it the right way, I had no idea there were so many species.

 

Thanks for the ID's and the discussion, the members of this forum are very kind, informed, and informative. 

[TechAnt]

I wish you best of luck on your colony, Apheanogaster is an amazing species!

[ponerinecat]

You know, until my kids asked for an ant colony and I wanted to do it the right way, I had no idea there were so many species.

 

Thanks for the ID's and the discussion, the members of this forum are very kind, informed, and informative. 

The amount of diversity is dizzying   I hate it when someone brings up a genus I used to know about but slowly forgot because of how obscure it is. 

[ANTdrew]

To most of humanity there are four species of ants: big black ants, little black ants, big red ants, and little red ants.

[AntsDakota]

To most of humanity there are four species of ants: big black ants, little black ants, big red ants, and little red ants.

 

If you want to bring Camponotus somewhere, say to show kids at school or an exhibit/display or something like that, just tell whoever is running the said opportunity to show them off that they're Camponotus. I mean, they'd be fine with that. As long as they're not carpenter ants, right?