Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Help Novice ID first ant species


  • Please log in to reply
5 replies to this topic

#1 Offline FireFighterDuck - Posted May 25 2022 - 4:37 PM

FireFighterDuck

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 6 posts

Hello, 

 

After watching several AC videos that I randomly stumbled upon, I got the idea to try to locate a queen of my own to keep. I located several nests in my front yard. I live in Dallas, NC (Gaston County). Our yard is comprised of mostly red clay soil. I dug into the clay with a small trowel, approximately 3-4 inches deep. To my surprise I located the queen almost immediately. It was a small nest, and I only saw maybe 6 ants in addition to the queen. I was able to capture 3 worker ants (I think) and a queen. She very clearly still has wings. I am wondering if she has already mated? I would think so, as she was in a nest with at least a few worker ants. I am assuming this means she mated and laid the eggs that became the ants that I found in her nest. Anyway, I would love some insight into the species I have found. My initial searching online leads me to believe this is some sort of red Carpenter ant species.

Any help is certainly welcome.

 

Thank you, 

 

Ant Noob

Attached Images

  • Ant Nest 1.jpg
  • Ants 1.jpg
  • Ants 2.jpg


#2 Offline ColAnt735 - Posted May 25 2022 - 4:50 PM

ColAnt735

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 406 posts
  • LocationOntario,Canada
Camponotus casteneus alates and workers. Nice find! Although it is highly unlikely that she is not mated as nuptial flights are happening at the moment for this species.

Edited by ColAnt735, May 25 2022 - 4:54 PM.

  • azzaaazzzz00, antsinvirgina and lazyant like this

"If an ant carries an object a hundred times it's weight,you can carry burdens many times your size.


#3 Offline VenomousBeast - Posted May 25 2022 - 4:51 PM

VenomousBeast

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 352 posts
  • LocationButler, Butler County, Pennsylvania
I hate to break it to yah, but the chances are that she is unmated and that is her parent colony. But I can at least provide an ID for your ant here!
That's Camponotus casteanus. They are flying now but they tend to do so at evening and early morning (if it's warm enough, normally 75°F-80°F)
  • Manitobant and antsinvirgina like this

Keeps:

1:Pogonomymex occidentalis

4: Tetramorium immigrans

2 Reticulitermes flavipes


#4 Offline AntsCali098 - Posted May 26 2022 - 10:15 AM

AntsCali098

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 979 posts
  • LocationLong Beach, California (SoCal)

Wait and see if she lays eggs. It is impossible to confirm that see is mated or not until you know she gets workers. If she doesn't lay for 2 weeks, release her.n


Edited by AntsCali098, May 26 2022 - 10:15 AM.

Interested buying in ants? Feel free to check out my shop

Feel free to read my journals, like this one.

 

Wishlist:

Atta sp (wish they were in CA), Crematogaster cerasi, Most Pheidole species

 

 


#5 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 26 2022 - 12:00 PM

ANTdrew

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 9,376 posts
  • LocationAlexandria, VA

Wait and see if she lays eggs. It is impossible to confirm that see is mated or not until you know she gets workers. If she doesn't lay for 2 weeks, release her.n

Then he will ruin her chance of ever mating. This queen was clearly removed from a colony pre-flight and should be returned ASAP.
  • antsinvirgina, ColAnt735 and Tai_pan1 like this
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#6 Offline FireFighterDuck - Posted June 1 2022 - 6:00 AM

FireFighterDuck

    Newbie

  • Members
  • Pip
  • 6 posts
Thank you all for your helpful information. I released the queen I had captured, after considering my options.

I went looking again last night and happened upon another Camponotus castaneus in my front yard. This queen had no wings. I felt this would be a better queen to keep. I got her settled into a test tube setup. Now I'm just trying to resist the urge to go look at her every hour. I know, patience. Haha

Attached Images

  • 20220601_094426.jpg
  • 20220601_094450.jpg

  • ANTdrew, Ants_Dakota, antsinvirgina and 1 other like this




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users