9 replies to this topic

[madbiologist]

This specimen is approximately 3.5mm long. It was found in a forest by a small stream. It was under a rock tending to a small brood pile with a few other workers of the same coloration. No dark colored workers were visible. Bloating is likely due to ethanol.

 

Important to note the angular underside of the petiole and small but visible eyes.

 

 

 

Edited by madbiologist, September 28 2021 - 4:59 PM.

[ANTS_KL]

I feel it is cryptopone. From what I remember ponera have a longer head and a slimmer body.

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[Chickalo]

That's Ponera I think cause at the bottom of the petiole is a translucent window.

 

I don't have the New England book with me so I got AntWiki:

 

 

The mandibles are triangular and with numerous small teeth along their inner margins. The forward sections of the frontal lobes and antennal sockets are very close together and are separated by at most a very narrow rearward extension of the clypeus. The node of the petiole has distinct front, top and rear faces. The underside of the petiole (subpetiolar process) with a translucent thin spot near the front and a sharp angle or pair of small teeth near the rear. The tibiae of the hind legs each have a single large, comb-like (pectinate) spur at their tips (best viewed from the front).

 

Well, there's your window:

Edited by Chickalo, September 29 2021 - 4:32 AM.

[Aaron567]

Agreed with the above post; it's definitely Ponera, looks just like P. pennsylvanica but light colored for some reason. Maybe you stumbled upon a satellite nest that happened to only have callow workers at that moment? In any case, it seems like they can get pretty orange in some populations.

[PetsNotPests]

Agreed with the above post; it's definitely Ponera, looks just like P. pennsylvanica but light colored for some reason. Maybe you stumbled upon a satellite nest that happened to only have callow workers at that moment? In any case, it seems like they can get pretty orange in some populations.

I second this. A lighter caste of worker is actually quite common in this genera. And considering that P. pennsylvanica are the only DOCUMENTED sp. of Ponera in Ohio, I'd say we have a match. 

[Chickalo]

Oh shi*t i was actually right for once

[James C. Trager]

From there in far southern Ohio, and with that pale color in both queen and workers, could be Ponera exotica.

Edited by James C. Trager, March 7 2022 - 9:42 AM.

[madbiologist]

From there in far southern Ohio, and with that pale color in both queen and workers, could be Ponera exotica.

 

Thanks for the tip, I wasn't aware there were other Ponera found within the US! I'll make sure to compare it to images of P. pennsylvanica once I reach that specimen. I did not collect the specimen myself, so I cannot confirm the coloration of the queen or other workers, but the collector has told me that the colony/group of workers it was collected from all had the same coloration.

[NicholasP]

 

From there in far southern Ohio, and with that pale color in both queen and workers, could be Ponera exotica.

 

Thanks for the tip, I wasn't aware there were other Ponera found within the US! I'll make sure to compare it to images of P. pennsylvanica once I reach that specimen. I did not collect the specimen myself, so I cannot confirm the coloration of the queen or other workers, but the collector has told me that the colony/group of workers it was collected from all had the same coloration.

 

It's also possible it's Hypoponera opacior since they can be found across the southern and mid part of Ohio.

Edited by NicholasP, April 2 2022 - 11:34 AM.

[OiledOlives]

P. exotica can easily be differentiated by their size (2mm long workers).