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Small black ants? Maybe Monomorium?

Started By Izzy , May 4 2024 3:05 PM

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6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Izzy - Posted May 4 2024 - 3:05 PM

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Went on a hike this morning to Kyhv Peak (previously called Squaw Peak) in Utah, Utah County. At about 7,700 ft elevation I started flipping some rocks. I found these small black ants (pictured) and some others that were similar sized with some orange or yellow in them, not sure what they were and I didn't get a picture.

 

I didn't even notice the queens until I got home and looked at the picture, so I didn't capture any, but was just curious as to what they are. I have some Monomorium minimum and I feel like they look different, but I'm not really sure what else they would be so I might just be wrong. Anyone have any ideas? I know Monomorium minimum can be polygynous so that's my first thought.

 

Sorry picture quality isn't the best since all I had was my cell phone, they were small, and I had to zoom in to provide any real detail for this photo.

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Edited by Izzy, May 6 2024 - 8:13 AM.

#2 Offline Artisan_Ants - Posted May 4 2024 - 3:46 PM

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Look like V. pergandei not me all though not fully sure. The body shape and petioles (I’m pretty sure) visible as rounded unlike Monomorium but the head is similar. What really give out the answer I feel is the hairs visible on the abdomen on the queen and the harvester-ant looking heads on the queen and some clear spots of the workers. They can be either monogynous or polygynous but I’m not to sure. I’m thinking V. pergandei but it could most definitely be some other species.

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#3 Offline ANTdrew - Posted May 4 2024 - 3:59 PM

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Definitely not Veromessor. I think Monomorium is a good guess, but you won’t be able to identify species from photos.
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#4 Offline bmb1bee - Posted May 4 2024 - 10:47 PM

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There really isn't anything else other than Monomorium that matches the descriptions shown in the photo. Based on species shown on iNat, it's something within the Monomorium minimum complex.


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#5 Offline bmb1bee - Posted May 4 2024 - 10:52 PM

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Look like V. pergandei not me all though not fully sure. The body shape and petioles (I’m pretty sure) visible as rounded unlike Monomorium but the head is similar. What really give out the answer I feel is the hairs visible on the abdomen on the queen and the harvester-ant looking heads on the queen and some clear spots of the workers. They can be either monogynous or polygynous but I’m not to sure. I’m thinking V. pergandei but it could most definitely be some other species.

The petioles aren't really visible at all from the photo, and the hairs are also present on Monomorium. They have "harvester-ant looking heads" because Veromessor and Monomorium are both myrmecine ants, which generally have a similar body design.

 

If you're not fully sure on a species, it's best to leave it at genus or even subfamily (i.e. Myrmecinae).


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#6 Offline gcsnelling - Posted May 5 2024 - 3:34 AM

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Monomorium for sure.


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#7 Offline J_Najera28 - Posted May 6 2024 - 8:51 AM

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Definitely Monomorium 


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