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Hey there guys, found these today 06/03/2106

Started By bryancurtis8 , Jun 3 2016 3:13 AM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline bryancurtis8 - Posted June 3 2016 - 3:13 AM

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They where located in Jolon, California. In a mountain area.

The colony lives in sandy but hard terrain. Saw them coming out of the nest to mate and flying around.

It is a bit more than half an inch long.

They look full black to me.

It was at night, around 12am.

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#2 Offline dermy - Posted June 3 2016 - 3:30 AM

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It is a bit more than half an inch long.

Then those must be some huge tiles! Did you use a ruler to measure this queen?

As for the species Aphaenogaster is my guess but i'm no good with California ants.

Edited by dermy, June 3 2016 - 3:30 AM.

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#3 Offline bryancurtis8 - Posted June 3 2016 - 3:37 AM

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Haha my bad I got a little bit happy with my measurment. Worked a 19 hour shift today so I'm pretty tired.

It is more like 0.71cm

#4 Offline yen_saw - Posted June 3 2016 - 5:31 AM

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Pogonomyrmex?

#5 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 3 2016 - 6:35 AM

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Looks like Veromessor andrei. 12:00 AM huh? Hmm... I've been wanting to catch some of these for a long time. I've always heard they fly just as the sun comes up.

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#6 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted June 3 2016 - 6:38 AM

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I'd second Messor or Veromessor from it's Pogonomyrmex-like appearance, but with propodial spines. That's probably as far as I can go with these pictures.

If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

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#7 Offline Foogoo - Posted June 3 2016 - 7:09 AM

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They where located in Jolon, California. In a mountain area.

Are you at Hunter Liggett? I was there a few weeks ago and saw almost no ant activity except for a few V. pergandei and P. rugosus nests.

Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta

#8 Offline bryancurtis8 - Posted June 3 2016 - 9:40 AM

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Yeah, I work here.

A wildfire had started recently pretty close by also. Don't know if that would be something that contributes to them mating at that time.