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[YawningGull]

1. Location of collection: Renton, Washington. I'm my side yard. It's not really a yard, it's small hill with some plants on it, 2 small trees. Messy.

2. Date of collection: This was my first queen, sadly I don't know the exact date. It was about a month ago. I think the 27th of July but not sure.
3. Habitat of collection: Suburb, I live near a lot of trees.
4. Length: 10 mm
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Bald, shiny, no hair at all. Gaster has some bands that are translucent/milky/white.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: One big, spiky petiole that I could only see when she was in a slightly curled position drinking water.

 

 

If she's gone about a month without eating should i give her a drop of honey in a tiny cotton ball?

I'm pretty sure she's either Camponotus or Formica but I can't tell the difference. What's a good way to tell with Camponotus or Formica queens?

 

She hasn't laid any eggs yet because this was my first queen and I didn't really know what I was doing so I checked up on her a lot.

Edited by YawningGull, August 24 2016 - 8:20 PM.

[Batspiderfish]

In Formica, the clypeus (think "upper lip") is touching or adjacent to the antennal insertions. In Camponotus, the antennal insertions are above the clypeus and do not touch. Camponotus queens tend to have comparatively elongate bodies and thick heads.

 

This looks like Formica argentea, which have silvery pubescence covering the first four gastral tergites and covering their legs.