10 replies to this topic

[prettycode]

Was working in office with porch door open and ants started flying in to the computer monitor's light. Two distinct species.

 

Location: Seattle, WA suburbs

Time: 9:30 PM - 10:30 PM

Weather: Heavy day of rain three days ago, sunny since; high 80s F today, 74 F at time of flight

 

First species is tetramorium. I think. Completely black and 2 - 2.5 mm. Caught 17 and put each one in its own ziplock bags, in cool basement, until test tubes arrive Friday.

 

The other species is TINY! Golden in color about 1 mm or less, they almost looked like fruit flies. Gave two their own isolated bags, and put about 15 all together in one tupperware, and another 15 in another tupperware.

 

In the tupperwares, they appear to be fighting a little bit. That, or they're kissing--which I'm sure they're not. I'm worried that they'll all kill each other before I can put them in test tubes on Friday. What do you guys think? Is fighting typical for multiple queens in a single temporary container?

 

Will post pictures when I get them in test tubes.

Edited by prettycode, July 31 2015 - 7:42 AM.

[LC3]

Fighting seems typical in most queens especially Formacine ants from what I heard. Myrmicinae don't do it all the time.

[Crystals]

There is a large different between fighting and trophallaxis.  I am not sure if Tetramorium queens co-exist easily.

 

You could use other ways to seperate them.  Putting one each in a pill bottle, piece of vinyl tubing, even a large straw.  Plug both ends with cotton and wet one end for humidity until your test tubes arrive.  Dollar stores even those those nice little paint containers or sometimes even plastic test tubes in the party section.

[prettycode]

There is a large different between fighting and trophallaxis.  I am not sure if Tetramorium queens co-exist easily.

 

You could use other ways to seperate them.  Putting one each in a pill bottle, piece of vinyl tubing, even a large straw.  Plug both ends with cotton and wet one end for humidity until your test tubes arrive.  Dollar stores even those those nice little paint containers or sometimes even plastic test tubes in the party section.

 

The Tetramorium are all isolated by themselves. They're big enough that I could do this fairly easily. 

 

This other tiny species are the ones that are all living together for about 24 hours until I get them into test tubes. I cannot wait to get some pictures of them--I've never seen these ants before.

 

Pretty new to anting so have no clue what these species really are. Tetramorium is a guess but I think it's probably right; this other microscopic species--who knows.

[Crystals]

How small is small?  I wonder if they are Solenopsis molesta or Brachmyrmex....

 

We would need clear pictures to ID them.

[prettycode]

How small is small?  I wonder if they are Solenopsis molesta or Brachmyrmex....

 

We would need clear pictures to ID them.

 

Pretty sure they're Solenopsis molesta, now that you mention it. They're all about 1 mm, with the smallest at 0.5 mm and the largest at 1.5 mm.

 

Will post pictures tonight or tomorrow. 

[LC3]

There is a large different between fighting and trophallaxis.  I am not sure if Tetramorium queens co-exist easily.

 

You could use other ways to seperate them.  Putting one each in a pill bottle, piece of vinyl tubing, even a large straw.  Plug both ends with cotton and wet one end for humidity until your test tubes arrive.  Dollar stores even those those nice little paint containers or sometimes even plastic test tubes in the party section.

Roachant has two Tetra queens co-existing and William said that it's possible they can co-exist during the founding stages.. I've also heard reports of polygynous Tetra colonies (usually containing two queens).

[Jonathan21700]

I think you aren't measuring correctly.

[prettycode]

Came home today, about 14 hours later, and out of the close to 50 ants, there's appears to be only 4 that are still alive. Major bummer. Not sure what to think; is the stress of being captured enough to kill them?

 

About to attempt to photograph these guys.

[prettycode]

I think you aren't measuring correctly.

 

You're right--thanks! The ticks on the instrument I used are 2 mm, not 1 mm. So multiply the numbers by two.

[Miles]

Very likely that this is Brachymyrmex depilis. We had an absolutely massive flight of that species last night. 

Edited by Miles, July 31 2015 - 5:10 PM.