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ID Australian Queen

Started By Bcam43 , Jan 9 2016 4:43 PM

Best Answer Zeiss , January 12 2016 - 12:55 AM

LC3 and I were in chat discussing this, and we think Anonychomyrma arcadia to be the closest ant in resemblance.  Most of the time, we were going off the shape of the head, a bit flatter than most and it has two pronounced "cone" shapes on the back of its head.   

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#1 Offline Bcam43 - Posted January 9 2016 - 4:43 PM

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Hi guys,

I'm new around here!

I need an ant queen ID.

I found this queen in my bathroom whilst I was taking a shower.

It was collected in Macs Cove, Victoria, Australia at an alltitude of approx. 600m.

The body colouration is light to medium brown and fairly consistent throughout the body.

Her length is approx. 11mm

I have included a video link below.

If you require any further information please let me know.

Thank you in advance!


http://vid27.photobu...rr/My Movie.mp4


Edited by Bcam43, December 12 2016 - 11:07 PM.

#2 Offline Mdrogun - Posted January 9 2016 - 7:15 PM

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This might be camponotus. It is hard to tell. Can you get a picture from a bird's eye view that would really help.


Currently Keeping:
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis

Pheidole pilifera

Forelius sp. (Monogynous, bicolored) "Midwestern Forelius"
Crematogaster cerasi

Pheidole bicarinata

Aphaenogaster rudis

Camponotus chromaiodes

Formica sp. (microgena species)

Nylanderia cf. arenivega

#3 Offline Bcam43 - Posted January 9 2016 - 7:38 PM

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This might be camponotus. It is hard to tell. Can you get a picture from a bird's eye view that would really help.

 

Hi Mdrogun,

 

Thanks for your reply.

 

I managed to get a photo of another queen that I collected at the same time that has lost its wings. I hope this helps. I am assuming they are the same.

 

160110143129180.jpg


#4 Offline LC3 - Posted January 10 2016 - 2:03 PM

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That doesn't look like Camponotus. 


#5 Offline Mdrogun - Posted January 11 2016 - 2:48 PM

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That is definitely not Camponotus. I am from the states and I am having a really hard time id'ing this queen. if you go to http://antmaps.org/?  you can see all of the species in your area maybe that can help you.


Edited by Mdrogun, January 11 2016 - 2:48 PM.

Currently Keeping:
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis

Pheidole pilifera

Forelius sp. (Monogynous, bicolored) "Midwestern Forelius"
Crematogaster cerasi

Pheidole bicarinata

Aphaenogaster rudis

Camponotus chromaiodes

Formica sp. (microgena species)

Nylanderia cf. arenivega

#6 Offline Bcam43 - Posted January 11 2016 - 5:26 PM

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That is definitely not Camponotus. I am from the states and I am having a really hard time id'ing this queen. if you go to http://antmaps.org/?  you can see all of the species in your area maybe that can help you.

 

Thanks Mdrogun,

 

I'll defiantly check that out.

 

I was thinking that it could be Iridomyrmex? Maybe Iridomyrmex purpureus?

 

What are your thoughts? I'd be happy just to get the Genus to be honest.

 

Thanks again. 


#7 Offline Mdrogun - Posted January 11 2016 - 7:56 PM

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That is definitely not Camponotus. I am from the states and I am having a really hard time id'ing this queen. if you go to http://antmaps.org/?  you can see all of the species in your area maybe that can help you.

 

Thanks Mdrogun,

 

I'll defiantly check that out.

 

I was thinking that it could be Iridomyrmex? Maybe Iridomyrmex purpureus?

 

What are your thoughts? I'd be happy just to get the Genus to be honest.

 

Thanks again. 

 

There is no way the queen is iridomyrmex. They look nothing like the species listed. You might have to wait for workers they can really help to ID a queen. You might never find the ID for this queen.


Currently Keeping:
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis

Pheidole pilifera

Forelius sp. (Monogynous, bicolored) "Midwestern Forelius"
Crematogaster cerasi

Pheidole bicarinata

Aphaenogaster rudis

Camponotus chromaiodes

Formica sp. (microgena species)

Nylanderia cf. arenivega

#8 Offline klawfran3 - Posted January 11 2016 - 7:58 PM

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That is definitely not Camponotus. I am from the states and I am having a really hard time id'ing this queen. if you go to http://antmaps.org/?  you can see all of the species in your area maybe that can help you.

 

Thanks Mdrogun,

 

I'll defiantly check that out.

 

I was thinking that it could be Iridomyrmex? Maybe Iridomyrmex purpureus?

 

What are your thoughts? I'd be happy just to get the Genus to be honest.

 

Thanks again. 

 

The head and gaster look a little too long to be Iridomyrmex purpureus. I know gaster length isn't reliable since it can expand and contract but the segments are very broad.


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#9 Offline Bcam43 - Posted January 11 2016 - 7:59 PM

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That is definitely not Camponotus. I am from the states and I am having a really hard time id'ing this queen. if you go to http://antmaps.org/?  you can see all of the species in your area maybe that can help you.

 

Thanks Mdrogun,

 

I'll defiantly check that out.

 

I was thinking that it could be Iridomyrmex? Maybe Iridomyrmex purpureus?

 

What are your thoughts? I'd be happy just to get the Genus to be honest.

 

Thanks again. 

 

There is no way the queen is iridomyrmex. They look nothing like the species listed. You might have to wait for workers they can really help to ID a queen. You might never find the ID for this queen.

 

 

Thanks. I thought the unique heart shaped head would help me ID her. But I can't really find a match anywhere....

 

I'll post some more photos when the workers arrive.

 

Thanks again.


#10 Offline Miles - Posted January 11 2016 - 8:00 PM

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Question, why can't this be an exotic Camponotus species? The Camponotus genus is large and very diverse.


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#11 Offline klawfran3 - Posted January 11 2016 - 8:07 PM

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Could it possibly be an Ochetellus species?

I see no reason it couldn't be a Camponotus sp. either


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#12 Offline Miles - Posted January 11 2016 - 9:33 PM

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Could it possibly be an Ochetellus species?

I think it's a very possible, maybe even probable ID.


Edited by Miles, January 11 2016 - 9:34 PM.

PhD Student & NSF Graduate Research Fellow | University of Florida Dept. of Entomology & Nematology - Lucky Ant Lab 

 

Founder & Director of The Ant Network. Ant keeper since 2009. Insect ecologist and science communicator. He/Him.

#13 Offline klawfran3 - Posted January 11 2016 - 11:41 PM

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Could it possibly be an Ochetellus species?

I think it's a very possible, maybe even probable ID.

 

Hopefully some experts weigh in on this soon


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#14 Offline Bcam43 - Posted January 11 2016 - 11:47 PM

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I think Ochetellus is pretty close.

 

My queen looks quite similar to the ants on this site identified as Ochetellus glaber. Head shape is slightly off though.

 

http://antfarm.yuku....re#.VpSuxpN96u4


#15 Offline Zeiss - Posted January 12 2016 - 12:55 AM   Best Answer

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LC3 and I were in chat discussing this, and we think Anonychomyrma arcadia to be the closest ant in resemblance.  Most of the time, we were going off the shape of the head, a bit flatter than most and it has two pronounced "cone" shapes on the back of its head.   


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#16 Offline Bcam43 - Posted January 12 2016 - 1:09 AM

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LC3 and I were in chat discussing this, and we think Anonychomyrma arcadia to be the closest ant in resemblance.  Most of the time, we were going off the shape of the head, a bit flatter than most and it has two pronounced "cone" shapes on the back of its head.   

 

Very interesting. Head shape is spot on. Another bit of information I can give is that the house is situated in a pine forest and it seems that Anonychomyrma arcadia like to nest in trees.


#17 Offline Zeiss - Posted January 12 2016 - 1:37 AM

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LC3 and I were in chat discussing this, and we think Anonychomyrma arcadia to be the closest ant in resemblance.  Most of the time, we were going off the shape of the head, a bit flatter than most and it has two pronounced "cone" shapes on the back of its head.   

 

Very interesting. Head shape is spot on. Another bit of information I can give is that the house is situated in a pine forest and it seems that Anonychomyrma arcadia like to nest in trees.

 

That is true.  This is the closest match we could find though.  It does also say that they will nest in soil.  http://www.antwiki.o...homyrma_arcadia, that is what we used, after going through the entire list of native species in Australia.  


#18 Offline swagman - Posted January 12 2016 - 1:42 AM

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Years ago I found a very similar looking queen in Australia.

The workers are very tiny compared to the queen. Unfortunately the queen died a few months after the workers emerged.  

 

DSC00691
DSC00690

#19 Offline LC3 - Posted January 12 2016 - 2:23 AM

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They do look very similar. Can't really tell if they are the same though. The workers seem to match Anonychomyrma pretty well. Can't confirm though.

(Pictures from Alex Wild)


Edited by LC3, January 12 2016 - 2:24 AM.

#20 Offline Bcam43 - Posted January 12 2016 - 2:58 AM

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Yes, they look very similar and the workers do match nicely with Anonychomyrma. I'm confident that it is Anonychomyrma arcadia.

I'll consider this solved. :)

 

Thanks guys much appreciated. 

 

Now, does anyone have any idea what they will like to eat ;)


Edited by Bcam43, January 12 2016 - 2:59 AM.

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