18 replies to this topic

[MelodicRedHawk]

Location: San Leandro (SF Bay Area), CA; Crawling on the windshield of my car sometime in the afternoon.

Date of Collection: Mid-January, 2021

Habitat: Suburban area, some trees, some small fields, mostly lawns and sidewalks

Length: Approx. 4-5mm

 

Shiny, dark reddish-brown with faint spot on spine of wings, no visible hairs, oval-shaped gaster.

Two petiole nodes.

Curled into a "C" shape during collection and whenever I check her test tube.

Unable to locate nest.

Nuptial flight time and date unknown.

 

Have had this queen for nearly two months, so far it has dropped one wing, no brood. Would really appreciate some assistance identifying, and some input as to whether this is a viable queen or not.

 

 

 

[YsTheAnt]

Could you get a top down shot of the queen? Looks like Solenopsis but its hard to rule out Crematogaster without such a photo. Never seen either fly in January though...

[MelodicRedHawk]

Could you get a top down shot of the queen? Looks like Solenopsis but its hard to rule out Crematogaster without such a photo. Never seen either fly in January though...

 

Do these help?

 

[MelodicRedHawk]

Could you get a top down shot of the queen? Looks like Solenopsis but its hard to rule out Crematogaster without such a photo. Never seen either fly in January though...

 

I thought the timing was odd for any ant species in my area, but because this is the first wild queen that I've encountered, I didn't question it too much at the time.

[gcsnelling]

Count the segments on the antennal club, gives it away immediately. They fly when they feel like it.

[Zeiss]

Thank you for reading around the forum and learning how to make an ID request properly, it's much appreciated!  

 

If you're using a phone camera, they usually have a minimum focal range of 3-4 inches, so hold your phone about that far away from the target.  Try not to zoom in too much, as that will usually blur the image further.  Be sure to get a good amount of light on the subject too for your camera to have an easier time focusing.

 

As for the ant, I believe it's in the genus Solenopsis.  For a species ID, I would need to see clearer photos.

[MelodicRedHawk]

Thank you for reading around the forum and learning how to make an ID request properly, it's much appreciated!  

 

If you're using a phone camera, they usually have a minimum focal range of 3-4 inches, so hold your phone about that far away from the target.  Try not to zoom in too much, as that will usually blur the image further.  Be sure to get a good amount of light on the subject too for your camera to have an easier time focusing.

 

As for the ant, I believe it's in the genus Solenopsis.  For a species ID, I would need to see clearer photos.

 

I'll attempt to get some clearer ones. I am indeed working with a cell phone camera, and this one in particular likes to be inconsistent with its focusing.

[MelodicRedHawk]

Unfortunately, my camera would not comply with getting any clearer pictures. That being said, is it normal for a solenopsis queen to go this long without laying any eggs? As I stated at the beginning of the thread, I have had this ant for about two months.

[NickAnter]

This is Solenopsis, as seen by the two segmented antennal club in the first picture. One of the many species in CA that arent really studied(or described), or commonly kept. Hopefully the queen is fertile, and you can see what the workers look like.

[YsTheAnt]

I agree with Solenopsis.

[MelodicRedHawk]

This is Solenopsis, as seen by the two segmented antennal club in the first picture. One of the many species in CA that arent really studied(or described), or commonly kept. Hopefully the queen is fertile, and you can see what the workers look like.

 

What would you say the chances are of her being fertile, after nearly two months with no brood?

[antsandmore]

 

This is Solenopsis, as seen by the two segmented antennal club in the first picture. One of the many species in CA that arent really studied(or described), or commonly kept. Hopefully the queen is fertile, and you can see what the workers look like.

 

What would you say the chances are of her being fertile, after nearly two months with no brood?

 

there's always a half and half chance, either she lays or she doesn't. Solenopsis going this long without eggs is kind of weird, although you probably caught her in the winter so she could have been in hibernation/diapause. I'd keep her just in case. keep us updated!

[NickAnter]

 

This is Solenopsis, as seen by the two segmented antennal club in the first picture. One of the many species in CA that arent really studied(or described), or commonly kept. Hopefully the queen is fertile, and you can see what the workers look like.

 

What would you say the chances are of her being fertile, after nearly two months with no brood?

 

Very low. Unless she is sort of hibernating and waiting for warmer weather, which would be unusual for this genus.

[Manitobant]

The fact that she has wings and hasn’t laid for this long makes me think she is infertile.

[gcsnelling]

This is unfortunately very common with Solenopsis in the molesta group.

[BugFinder]

That's a beautiful ant.  Congratulations.  I hope she lays for you.

[MelodicRedHawk]

If on the off chance she does lay, I will most likely be putting the colony up for sale. As cool as Solenopsis are, I am not entirely interested in keeping stinging species in my home, especially since I also have a cat that loves mischief.

[M_Ants]

Dibs

[JenC]

How much would you be selling for?