26 replies to this topic

[gsparrow]

Hello, I have 3 queens to ID.

 

This first one was found in Pasco County, Florida on 4/12/24 - it landed in a swimming pool.

about 7.5 mm long

Reddish colored head

Album: 4-12-24 Pasco Co., FL

9 images

0 comments

 

 

 

The second one was found on  Myrtle Beach SC on 4/16/24 - There were a bunch of kings and queens being washed up from the ocean onto the beach. I'm assuming the queens still had there wings due to not landing on land to shed them.

About 11 mm long.  I'm guessing a Camponotus?

Album: 4-16-24 Myrtle Beach SC

4 images

0 comments

 

 

And lastly, found 4/20/2024 in Kent County Delaware.

about 6.5 mm long. Hopefully not a Tetramorium immigrans.

Album: 4-20-24 Kent, DE

8 images

0 comments

 

 

[The_Gaming-gate]

1 is Solenopsis, probably invicta.

2 is Camponotus.

 

I do not know what 3 is.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

3 is not Tetramorium immigrans. 2 is C.sp 1 does look like invicta.

[TacticalHandleGaming]

1 is Solenopsis, probably invicta.

2 is Camponotus.

 

I do not know what 3 is.

I agree on 1 and 2. 3 looks like a parasite. Likely Lasius.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

For 1 I am throwing L.claviger. but I am am not best with parasitic species

Edit: 3

Edited by GOCAMPONOTUS, April 20 2024 - 5:54 PM.

[The_Gaming-gate]

For 1 I am throwing L.claviger. but I am am not best with parasitic species

That is certainly not Lasius or anything remotely close.

[The_Gaming-gate]

Three is definitely a Lasius parasite, not L. aphidcola though.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

I meant 3

[The_Gaming-gate]

I meant 3

Oh alright.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

The legs seem to have a little hint of yellow

[futurebird]

Normally with a big black Camponotus in this location pennslyvanicus is a good guess. But the head shape seems all wrong to me. The gaster seems too narrow also. And the overall size is a bit tiny ... The light wing color is also not typical but Camponotus nearcticus can have light wings and is smaller. That is my *guess* 

 

I know you probably don't want to annoy your new queens, but photos with much more light could help. Though these photos are much better than what we normally get. 

 

I agree with Solenopsis for 1... probability says invicta. But, I don't think I can say from the photos it's not some other Solenopsis that might be native. 

 

Nice queens!

[The_Gaming-gate]

Normally with a big black Camponotus in this location pennslyvanicus is a good guess. But the head shape seems all wrong to me. The gaster seems too narrow also. And the overall size is a bit tiny ... The light wing color is also not typical but Camponotus nearcticus can have light wings and is smaller. That is my *guess* 

 

I know you probably don't want to annoy your new queens, but photos with much more light could help. Though these photos are much better than what we normally get. 

 

I agree with Solenopsis for 1... probability says invicta. But, I don't think I can say from the photos it's not some other Solenopsis that might be native. 

 

Nice queens!

The only other common fire ant in Florida is S. geminata, so it's a 50/50.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

Looks a little more like invicta.

[The_Gaming-gate]

Agreed, but remember that the darker geminata variant is near identical.

Edited by The_Gaming-gate, April 21 2024 - 10:01 AM.

[Artisan_Ants]

First one is S. invicta quite clearly (first all; the head is smaller than the thorax and second is the fact that the last petiole is smaller whereas S. geminata, the last petiole is longer. This varies from ant to ant though). The second is likely C. neararcticus due to long and skinny abdomen and small compared to scale. The last one is indeed a temporary parasite of Lasius. Most likely L. aphidicola as L. umbratus fly in September. Of course they go through hibernation but it is very very hard to ID from both species. Research show that L. aphidicola are just North American versions of L. umbratus but then why are they considered a different species in the US? There must the some differences. Other than that; this might be L. umbratus and it probably is due to the darker appearance in such light but I’m leaning towards L. aphidicola.

[The_Gaming-gate]

First one is S. invicta quite clearly (first all; the head is smaller than the thorax and second is the fact that the last petiole is smaller whereas S. geminata, the last petiole is longer. This varies from ant to ant though). The second is likely C. neararcticus due to long and skinny abdomen and small compared to scale. The last one is indeed a temporary parasite of Lasius. Most likely L. aphidicola as L. umbratus fly in September. Of course they go through hibernation but it is very very hard to ID from both species. Research show that L. aphidicola are just North American versions of L. umbratus but then why are they considered a different species in the US? There must the some differences. Other than that; this might be L. umbratus and it probably is due to the darker appearance in such light but I’m leaning towards L. aphidicola.

There are no L. umbratus in America. She could be L. aphidcola, however. If she was lighter I’d be sure, however there are plenty of dark aphidcola.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

I still say L.aphidcola or L.claviger

[The_Gaming-gate]

Looks more like aphidcola in my opinion.

[Artisan_Ants]

First one is S. invicta quite clearly (first all; the head is smaller than the thorax and second is the fact that the last petiole is smaller whereas S. geminata, the last petiole is longer. This varies from ant to ant though). The second is likely C. neararcticus due to long and skinny abdomen and small compared to scale. The last one is indeed a temporary parasite of Lasius. Most likely L. aphidicola as L. umbratus fly in September. Of course they go through hibernation but it is very very hard to ID from both species. Research show that L. aphidicola are just North American versions of L. umbratus but then why are they considered a different species in the US? There must the some differences. Other than that; this might be L. umbratus and it probably is due to the darker appearance in such light but I’m leaning towards L. aphidicola.

There are no L. umbratus in America. She could be L. aphidcola, however. If she was lighter I’d be sure, however there are plenty of dark aphidcola.

On AntMaps it says that L. umbratus are dubious/in error which still means that specimens were found in that region or state. Of course this could have have changed depending on when the map was last updated but that doesn’t mean that L. umbratus aren’t in the listed states at all. Florida as a matter of fact is one of the places where they are dubious/in error.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

More I look into it it does seem to be L.aphidicola as they have many different color variations as The_Gaming-gate stated

Edited by GOCAMPONOTUS, April 21 2024 - 11:42 AM.