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Ant or termite?


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13 replies to this topic

#1 Offline That_one_ant_guy - Posted January 26 2021 - 4:05 PM

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Hello I recently found this bug crawling on the ground. I scooped it up an put it In a test tube for a better look, but when I looked at it, it looked like a termite. Part of me thinks it's an ant but idk do any of you guys know what this is?

#2 Offline That_one_ant_guy - Posted January 26 2021 - 4:07 PM

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Here's the bug. It also shed its wings immediately after putting it in the test tube

Attached Images

  • 20210126_155930.jpg
  • 20210126_161020.jpg

Edited by That_one_ant_guy, January 26 2021 - 4:10 PM.


#3 Offline Devi - Posted January 26 2021 - 4:12 PM

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Ehhhh, not great pics.  Do you think you could get better?  I suppose it could be an ant, but I kinda doubt it...  Then again, I am not familiar with the ants in your area, and suck at IDing so take my opinion for a grain of salt. 


Edited by Devi, January 26 2021 - 4:14 PM.


#4 Offline M_Ants - Posted January 26 2021 - 4:15 PM

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Termite for sure. You need a pair to start a colony though. Otherwise they are good ant food. 


Edited by M_Ants, January 26 2021 - 4:23 PM.

Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

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


#5 Offline Devi - Posted January 26 2021 - 4:17 PM

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termite

Those are my suspicions as well.  The antennae look weird, and the general shape is off.  The mesosoma also looks small.  Just my opinion. 



#6 Online Zeiss - Posted January 26 2021 - 4:43 PM

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Just as M_Ants said, this is a termite.  If you don't catch a pair running together, then a single one is just good ant food.


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#7 Offline That_one_ant_guy - Posted January 26 2021 - 5:09 PM

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Oki thank you

#8 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted January 26 2021 - 5:21 PM

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Looks to be Reticulitermes.



#9 Offline antsandmore - Posted January 27 2021 - 8:16 AM

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termite. I caught a pair, but they died:( yay juptial flights are back on track! (I think)


Ants I am keeping:

 none for now, planning on being more active this year


#10 Offline BADANT - Posted January 27 2021 - 11:23 AM

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I saw a chart years ago, that showed a simple difference between ants and termites is that ant antennae have a bend and termite queen antennae are straight. I’ve always wondered if that was true?
Interesting to learn that they have to be caught in pairs


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#11 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted January 27 2021 - 11:39 AM

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I saw a chart years ago, that showed a simple difference between ants and termites is that ant antennae have a bend and termite queen antennae are straight. I’ve always wondered if that was true?
Interesting to learn that they have to be caught in pairs


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That is true, but the easiest way to tell from a glance is termites have a fused abdomen and thorax.


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#12 Offline antsandmore - Posted January 27 2021 - 12:20 PM

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I saw a chart years ago, that showed a simple difference between ants and termites is that ant antennae have a bend and termite queen antennae are straight. I’ve always wondered if that was true?
Interesting to learn that they have to be caught in pairs


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That is true, but the easiest way to tell from a glance is termites have a fused abdomen and thorax.

 

yes. This is true. I have seen termites move their antennae in a very flexible movement, and it is kind of like a string that can be moved. Ants, on the other side, have more sharply bent antennae.


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Ants I am keeping:

 none for now, planning on being more active this year


#13 Offline BADANT - Posted January 27 2021 - 1:18 PM

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@ TennesseeAnts
I saw that when I googled that species. They are easy to ID at a glance because of that, even with my old eyes...LOL


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#14 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted January 27 2021 - 1:24 PM

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@ TennesseeAnts
I saw that when I googled that species. They are easy to ID at a glance because of that, even with my old eyes...LOL


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Yeah, its pretty easy to tell, lol.






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