5 replies to this topic

[Shaye]

I have seen 8 colonies that have small little yellow ants that rarely come up to the surface and smell like lemon/orange-ish, and was wondering if my ID was correct. dspdrew pointed out that Lasius are not known to be under 5,000 feet and I live at about 1,500ft in canyon Country, CA. I've done some research as well, and no information that I could find on any site mapped them as being in california at all. They are 4mm in length.

Album: Citronella Ants?

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[Mdrogun]

Definitely not Lasius. That ant almost reminds me of a Myrmecocystus mexicanus worker but the smell makes me think otherwise. It might be a Formica worker but I am not too familiar with Formica from Califronia so I could be wrong.

Edited by Mdrogun, March 18 2016 - 7:52 PM.

[dspdrew]

Just to be clear, I said I personally have not found Lasius anywhere under 5000 feet here in Southern California, and they don't normally live anywhere that there isn't snow on the ground for most of the winter according to Dr. Trager (which would be anywhere under 5,000 ft around here).

 

Like I said in chat: This is most likely the same species as the queen you found--Myrmecocystus testaceus. You said they rarely come out? Go out there after dark, and I bet you will see them all over the ground outside the nest. They would definitely smell like vinegar too when disturbed.

[Shaye]

I kind of wish I would have simply asked for the queen's ID, because I truthfully have little evidence other than what I smelled when I first picked one up. I didn't want to start a whole long thing and really wish that all my posts didn't look like I was trying to prove someone wrong. Perhaps if I ever buy a queen and head up that way I can bring a worker for you to examine and document as being in california Drew?

[Shaye]

I saw your equipment in the thread where everyone posted their ant setup and you'd definitely be best equipped comparatively to me to do so.

[LC3]

Doesn't look like Lasius to me, It's a bit elongated to be Lasius and perhaps a bit too big? Typical Lasius should measure around 3mm or 4mm at most. 

Edited by LC3, March 18 2016 - 9:22 PM.