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Multiple Parasitic Formica ID's (Black Hills SD)

parasitic formica formica black hills south dakota formica ravida ravida formica obscuripes obscuripes

Best Answer Mettcollsuss , September 5 2024 - 7:08 PM

Formica sanguinea group, I think probably F. aserva since they match the habitus and I don't see much hair.

 

Edit: 1 and 3 look like aserva to me, number 2 is also sanguinea group but I'm unsure without closer examination of the hairs.

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#1 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted August 3 2024 - 3:20 PM

Ants_Dakota

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Queen #1
1. Location: Black Hills, SD.
2. Today's date: 8/3/2024
 
Body:
1. Location of collection Custer State Park

2. Date of collection: 7/29-8/2
3. Habitat of collection: Coniferous Ponderosa pine forest floor
4. Length: ~9mm
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Black matte abdomen with silvery white hair scattered generously and evenly, matte red throax with a shinier lighter red "X" shape marking it(similar to F. pacifica). This "X" shape can be either pronounced or relatively hidden, although still identifiable. The head is a dark red of a similar hue to the thorax, and is large.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Large head and very large thorax, "X" pattern on thorax(Very distinctive)
7. Anything else distinctive: Seems polygynous or pleiotropic, as multiple queens will groom each other and stick together very closely[EDIT: The colony is not polygynous, queens fight after brood is introduced]
8. Nest description: Unknown

9. Nuptial flight time and date: Unknown, these queens can be found for weeks after a flight foraging for a host nest
10 . Apologies for not having the clearest pictures, the glass got in the way

P8030033.JPG

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IMG_0853.JPG

IMG_0851.JPG

 

Queen #2
1. Location: Black Hills, SD.
2. Today's date: 8/3/2024
 
Body:
1. Location of collection Custer State Park

2. Date of collection: 7/29-8/2
3. Habitat of collection: Coniferous Ponderosa pine forest floor
4. Length: ~8mm
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Similar to the above mentioned queen, however slightly smaller and without the "X" pattern on the thorax. She also has a noticeably smaller thorax.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Smaller thorax
7. Anything else distinctive: No
8. Nest description: Unknown

9. Nuptial flight time and date: Unknown, these queens can be found for weeks after a flight foraging for a host nest

P8030018.JPG

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IMG_0856.JPG

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Queen #3
1. Location: Black Hills, SD.
2. Today's date: 8/3/2024
 
Body:
1. Location of collection Custer State Park

2. Date of collection: 7/29-8/2
3. Habitat of collection: Coniferous Ponderosa pine forest floor
4. Length: ~8mm
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Very similar to the #1 queen, however she is distinctly shinier, and has a noticeably smaller and darker head. The abdomen also seems slightly more shiny, with more distinct stripes.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Very distinct "X" pattern on thorax
7. Anything else distinctive: Nope
8. Nest description: Unknown

9. Nuptial flight time and date: Unknown, these queens can be found for weeks after a flight foraging for a host nest
10 . Apologies for not having the clearest pictures, the glass got in the way

P8030035.JPG

P8030041.JPG

IMG_0859.JPG

IMG_0860.JPG


Edited by Ants_Dakota, August 3 2024 - 6:36 PM.

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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

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#2 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted August 3 2024 - 7:14 PM

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We worked on these colonies today and may I add the queens in the group began fighting once introduced to host brood. "Queens #1" are not polygynous, if that helps. Don't worry, they were separated. Unfortunately one queen passed though.


Edited by AntsDakota, August 3 2024 - 7:15 PM.

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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis


#3 Offline Mettcollsuss - Posted September 5 2024 - 7:08 PM   Best Answer

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Formica sanguinea group, I think probably F. aserva since they match the habitus and I don't see much hair.

 

Edit: 1 and 3 look like aserva to me, number 2 is also sanguinea group but I'm unsure without closer examination of the hairs.


Edited by Mettcollsuss, September 5 2024 - 7:10 PM.

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#4 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 5 2024 - 7:14 PM

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Formica sanguinea group, I think probably F. aserva since they match the habitus and I don't see much hair.

 

Edit: 1 and 3 look like aserva to me, number 2 is also sanguinea group but I'm unsure without closer examination of the hairs.

Thank you so much for glancing over this ID! Your expert opinion is really helpful for both me and RushmoreAnts in caring for these in the future.


Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

My Formica sp. Journal

My Lasius sp. Journal

My Micro Ants Journal

My Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Journal






Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: parasitic formica, formica, black hills, south dakota, formica ravida, ravida, formica obscuripes, obscuripes

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