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Twin Lakes, CO ID Request #2

Started By Devi , Aug 2 2020 8:12 PM

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9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Devi - Posted August 2 2020 - 8:12 PM

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Hey, so I live near Denver but I'm on vacation up in the mountains.  I found two queens that need to be IDed.  Here is the second... 
 
1. Twin Lakes Colorado
2. Date of collection:  Aug. 2nd
3. Habitat of collection:  Dry desert area kind of, there are pine trees but overall pretty dry.
4. Length (from head to gaster): I'm up in a cabin with no ruler so unfortanately I can't provide this.  I will get it when I get home. EDIT: 10 mm...
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Average head and thorax, brown, and shiny, but not that shiny.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Very elongated gaster, it is brown with stripes. 
7. Distinguishing behavior:  Whenever I found her, there was another queen of the same species right next to her which makes me think it might be polygynus. Oh, and it definately wasn't from a nest, there were no workers around.
8. Nest description: I found this queen under a rock.
9. Nuptial flight time and date:  IDK about the flight, this queen was a dealate. I found it around 2:00 PM
20200802_171634.jpg : 
Sorry, not the best picture. :(  Looks like lacius maybe?


Edited by Devi, August 4 2020 - 12:59 PM.

#2 Offline TechAnt - Posted August 2 2020 - 8:18 PM

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Maybe a better picture would be good. It could be Lasius sp. or a kind of Camponotus sp.
My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#3 Offline Manitobant - Posted August 2 2020 - 8:56 PM

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Lasius neoniger.
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/

#4 Offline NickAnter - Posted August 3 2020 - 7:01 AM

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I think this looks more like Liometopum apiculatum, but can't tell without closer pics and a measurement.


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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 Online YsTheAnt - Posted August 3 2020 - 7:32 AM

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This could be Lasius alienus, Lasius niger, or Lasius neoniger. All three have been recorded in Colorado, but we will need closer pictures to get an affirmative species ID.

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#6 Offline ponerinecat - Posted August 3 2020 - 8:16 AM

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I'm going to have to agree with Liometopum apiculatum. Very bulky  body, and it seems to posses that "velvety" sheen.

 

 

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  • 500px-Liometopum_apiculatum_queen_(Kirito_Uchiha).jpg

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#7 Offline Spazmops - Posted August 3 2020 - 8:18 AM

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I'm going to have to agree with Liometopum apiculatum. Very bulky  body, and it seems to posses that "velvety" sheen.

I second this, the wing muscles are too round for lasius niger group.


Co-owner and founder of Mountain Myrmeculture and The Menagerie Discord Server. 

Ants I have:

1 Formica fusca group- 0 workers

1 Tetramorium immigrans colony-20 workers

1 Dorymyrmex insanus- 1 queen, used to have workers

 

1 large P. occidentalis colony- around 50 workers, plenty of brood

 

 

#8 Offline ponerinecat - Posted August 3 2020 - 8:21 AM

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Well, not really. Lasius can have very large thoraxes as well. I'm mainly going off of the size of the head relative to the mesosoma here.

 

colony-of-lasius-niger-suitable-for-beginners-ants-free-anthouse.jpg

 


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#9 Offline Antkid12 - Posted August 3 2020 - 11:42 AM

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Awesome find!


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

 

                    

                   

 

 

#10 Offline AntsDakota - Posted August 3 2020 - 12:15 PM

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Lasius sp. We will definitely need better pictures and an accurate length to go further.


"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

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