5 replies to this topic

[Izzy]

Hello, looking for some ID's on a Camponotus and Lasius caught in Payson Canyon, Utah on May 13th in forested area found under some logs and a rock.

 

First, the Lasius. I initially thought it might be a neoniger, but after researching further I think its probably Lasius americanus as they're more of a forest species and neoniger is found more in fields. This queen was found in a forested area and seems to have a darker brown gaster than neoniger I've familiar with.

 

 

Second is the Camponotus, this is a species I haven't found before. I'm assuming its a Camponotus laevissimus. In person it looks pretty shiny, shinier than any other Camponotus I've seen (vicinus, sansabeanus, or modoc) and the size is smaller than vicinus.

 

I'm hoping there is something to glean from these pictures that will help me solidify my assumptions, or determine if its another species. Let me know if we need any pictures from a different angle.

[enceladussmartants]

Can you give some measurements (approximate is okay) of the queens? I've not seen Lasius queens before, so I don't know if I can help with that, but I can help with the Camponotus queen. 

[Izzy]

She is approximately 10mm long.

 

I also found this small Camponotus queen last night wandering on a hiking trail in Utah County called Rock Canyon. Seems like its barely bigger than a Tetramorium queen and the pictures and size seem to match up with a Camponotus nearcticus. She is 8mm long.

 

 

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

Probably is Camponotus nearcticus, that’s the only Camponotus species that is around 10mm that I know of

[Izzy]

10mm didn't seem right because the one I just found that looks like a nearcticus is 8mm and this looks a bit bigger than that. I just measured her again and got a better measurement and I'd say the one I suspected as laevissimus is 12mm long actually.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

10mm didn't seem right because the one I just found that looks like a nearcticus is 8mm and this looks a bit bigger than that. I just measured her again and got a better measurement and I'd say the one I suspected as laevissimus is 12mm long actually.

The first Camponotus species looks like laevissimus because of how it has a wider head and darker colour, but the second Camponotus species looks like nearcticus because if you pay attention to the colouring of the thorax of the second species, you can see there’s a reddish colouring and the head is thinner.

Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, May 29 2025 - 10:28 AM.