23 replies to this topic

[Leo]

Below are some photos of my pinned ant collection.

Most of these species were captured locally in Hong Kong. Some are from other countries or places.

 

 

Note that this collage of photos is not complete.

 

 

 

Leptanillinae

 

Protanilla

 

Protanilla sp

Size: 2-3mm (queen)

Location of capture: 22.26587, 114.160846

Date of capture: N/A

 

Queen caste

 

Fun fact: first confirmed record of this genus in Hong Kong

Edited by Leo, October 22 2023 - 7:41 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Woah! You’re back!

[Skwiggledork]

Wow, some real beauties there. I need to start photographing my pinned collection, but I don't have anything good to show off. lol

[Leo]

Woah! You’re back!

I guess I am   hahaha

[antsandmore]

man I really want to pin the ant workers I catch with the proper Id. Any tips and items/materials that you would recommend? thanks!

[ponerinecat]

What adhesive do you use? I have trouble keeping the ants stable while the glue dries, they always end up sliding around and flipping over.

[Leo]

man I really want to pin the ant workers I catch with the proper Id. Any tips and items/materials that you would recommend? thanks!

I'm just a beginner too, so nothing too good on advice, but i'm just using either small plastic strips or paper triangles cut out from folders or card paper.

 

What adhesive do you use? I have trouble keeping the ants stable while the glue dries, they always end up sliding around and flipping over.

Elmers glue.

[Zeiss]

Nice specimens!

[Skwiggledork]

man I really want to pin the ant workers I catch with the proper Id. Any tips and items/materials that you would recommend? thanks!

Number 3 insect pins, card stock to cut points out of and elmer's glue is what I use. and number 1 insect pins to pose the ants while they dry.

 

What adhesive do you use? I have trouble keeping the ants stable while the glue dries, they always end up sliding around and flipping over.

I use Elmer's glue as well. For larger ants, I hold the point/glue on the ants and blow on it for a few seconds before trying to lift it, so it dries a little better.
 

[Leo]

Updated

[gcsnelling]

Clear nail polish is far superior to elmers glue. Hand cut larger points for larger ants will help prevent specimens from tipping.

[Leo]

Ponerinae

 

Leptogenys

 

Leptogenys rufida

Size: ~4mm (worker)

Location of capture: 22.264806, 114.160562

Date of capture: 18/04/2018

 

Worker caste

 

 

Leptogenys diminuta

Size: 

Location of capture: 22.404148922260532, 114.10571656571283

Date of capture: 22/08/2023

 

Male caste

Worker caste

Ergatoid queen caste

 

 

Leptogenys kraepelini

Size:

Location of capture: 22.403990, 114.107077

Date of capture: 26/08/2023

 

Worker caste

 

Ergatoid queen caste

 

 

Leptogenys binghamii

Size:

Location of capture: 22.268197, 114.165783

Date of capture: 17/10/2023 (LT016)

 

Worker caste:

https://drive.google...?usp=share_link

 

 

Leptogenys kitteli

Size:

Location of capture: 22.268440, 114.165523

Date of capture: 17/10/2023

 

Worker:

 

 

Leptogenys peuqueti

Size:

Location of capture: 22.26490, 114.16080

Date of capture: 05/09/2023

 

Worker caste:

 

 

Buniapone

 

Buniapone amblyops

Size: 10mm (queen)

Location of capture: 22.265387, 114.160822

Date of capture: N/A

 

Queen caste

 

 

Odontomachus

 

Odontomachus hastutus

Size: 19mm (Queen)

Location of capture: N/A

Date of capture: N/A

 

Queen caste

 

 

 

Diacamma

 

Diacamma rugosum

Size: 12mm

Location of capture: 22.2656, 114.16086

Date of capture: N/A

 

Worker caste

 

 

Fun fact: all Diacamma species reproduce via gamergates

 

 

 

Diacamma cf. rugosum

Size:

Location of capture: 22.268197, 114.165783

Date of capture: 17/10/2023

 

Worker caste

https://drive.google...R_l?usp=sharing

 

Gamergates of this genus can be identified by a small piece of tissue found on the thorax of workers. This gemmae allows a worker to become reproductively viable/gamergate, and as such, this tissue is removed/mutilated by the current gamergate when a worker is newly enclosed. You can see here that this worker does not have a gemmae

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LRwlYiEre7TFd9Mj3Wgt4SBA_wpHFeqz/view?usp=sharing

 

If you want to read more about this go check this page out:

https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Diacamma

 

 

 

Harpegnathos

 

Harpegnathos venator

Size: ~16mm (Queen)

Location of capture: N/A (Hong Kong)

Date of capture: N/A

 

Queen caste

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LrXRK7xkzMBgAXMtrYgUu0ZuZewhRbfq/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rnhZ8NgxyRzbLXObtkYv4vCyyMZx262G/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aAEiDwArTSyNTrJY2rFwclSgVodZaLcg/view?usp=sharing

Edited by Leo, October 22 2023 - 7:40 PM.

[Leo]

Myrmicinae

 

Paratopula

 

Paratopula bauhinia

Size: 11mm (queen)

Location of capture: 22.265763, 114.160798

Date of capture: 12/04/2018

 

Queen caste

 

Acanthomyrmex

 

Acanthomyrmex glabfemoralis

Size: 6mm (queen)

Location of capture: Hong Kong

 

Queen caste:

 

 

Pheidole

 

Pheidole sp1

Size: 4mm (queen)

Location of capture: N/A 

Date of capture: N/A

 

Queen caste:

 

 

 

Pheidole sp2

Size: 6mm (queen)

Location of capture: 22.265607, 114.160770

Date of capture: N/A

 

Queen caste:

 

 

 

Strumigenys

 

Strumigenys faea

Size: ~2mm (worker)

Location of capture:22.40371, 114.10597

Date of capture: 26/08/2023

 

Worker caste:

 

 

 

Strumigenys sp1

Size: ~1.5mm (worker)

Location of capture: 22.264314, 114.161808

Date of capture: 25/01/2021

 

Worker caste:

Edited by Leo, September 10 2023 - 5:54 AM.

[Leo]

Formicinae

 

Camponotus

 

Camponotus bedoti

Location of capture: N/A

Date of capture: N/A

 

Queen caste:

 

Worker caste:

 

 

Camponotus singularis

Location of capture: N/A

Date of capture: N/A

 

Queen caste:

 

Camponotus cf. pseudoirritans

Location of capture: 22.26532, 114.16021

Date of capture: 13/08/2020

 

Queen caste:

 

Camponotus sp2

Location of capture: N/A

Date of capture: N/A

 

Queen caste:

 

 

Acropyga

 

Acropyga sp1

Location of capture: 22.265589, 114.160745

Date of capture: N/A

 

Queen caste:

 

Fun fact: These specialize in farming subterranean mealybugs/aphids to the point where new queens will always have a mealybug in their mandibles during nuptial flights

 

 

Anoplolepis

 

Anoplolepis gracilipes

Location of capture: 22.26485, 114.16092

Date of capture: 05/02/2019

 

Queen caste:

 

Worker caste:

 

 

 

Polyrhachis

 

Polyrhachis fellowesi

Location of capture: 22.27157, 114.14480

Date of capture: N/A

 

Worker caste:

 

Petiolar spines:

 

 

 

Polyrhachis cf. vigilans

Location of capture: 22.26548, 114.16087

Date of capture: N/A

 

Queen caste:

Edited by Leo, September 10 2023 - 6:02 AM.

[Leo]

Dorylinae

 

Aenictus

 

Aenictus aratus

Location of capture:22.40352, 114.10645

Date of capture: 26/08/2023

 

Workere caste:

 

Fun fact: The colony these workers were collected from were stimultaneously raiding a Diacamma colony, a Polyrhachis halidayi colony and marching down from a tall tree for some reason

 

 

Aenictus cf. ceylonicus

Location of capture: 22.4039, 114.10680

Date of capture: 26/08/2023

 

Worker caste:

 

 

Dorylus

 

Dorylus orientalis

Location of capture: 22.26563, 114.18093

Date of capture: N/A

 

Male caste:

 

Fun fact: One of the largest ants in Hong Kong (not sure if the male is larger or the queen is). Also the only Dorylus species in Hong Kong. Sometimes these are known as "sausage flies" due to their long gaster

Edited by Leo, August 30 2023 - 6:28 PM.

[Leo]

Ambylponiae

 

Stigmatomma

Edited by Leo, August 30 2023 - 6:29 PM.

[Leo]

Ectatomminae

 

Ectatomma

Edited by Leo, August 30 2023 - 6:31 PM.

[Leo]

Pseudomyrmecinae

[Leo]

Dolichoderinae

Edited by Leo, August 30 2023 - 6:36 PM.

[Leo]

Proceratiinae