17 replies to this topic

[RenDragon]

Hey guys, sorry for the bad pics (I can't get any better due to their size) but I was really curious about these little guys who are almost invisible here. They are a clear red, 1.5 mm long. I found them in my backyard within a Tetra nest (their holes being smaller, the tetras couldn't fit). They are quite the fighters though. I watched four of them team a tetra and take its head off! From what I read, they seem to be Wasmannia, but I have never seen them outside my yard and they supposedly don't live in this area. Any ideas on what they might be other than Wasmannia?

 

 

[Batspiderfish]

Location??

[gcsnelling]

And what do you mean by "tetra"?

[Canadian anter]

Looks like solenopsis molestation to me but was mania auropunctata is possivle

[Reacker]

Tetramorium of course

[gcsnelling]

Ahhh I see. I guess I am just to used to using the real names.

[Canadian anter]

Looks like solenopsis molestation to me but was mania auropunctata is possivle

OMG I am so sorry my autocorrect did that.it should be solenopsis molesta
Or wasmania auropunctata

[Reacker]

There are quite a few extremely convenient short hand names for the most common genera.

 

Tetras (Tetramorium)

Pogonomyrmex (Pogonomyrmex)

Campies/Campxxx (Camponotus)

Crematogaster (Cremotogaster)

invicta (Solenopsis invicta)

 

and a ton of others I don't know remember at the moment that I've seen and used for years now. What they lack in scientific rigor they make up for in utility.

[Salmon]

Almost certainly Solenopsis molesta. What you described is classic thief ant behavior.

[Mdrogun]

Wasmania have a nasty sting. If you pick a few up and they sting you then it would decide whether or not they're Solenopsis molesta or Wasmania. That being said, I doubt these are Wasmania.

[gcsnelling]

I would like a locality before tossing a possible id into the ring. I guess I am just old and stuck in my ways to ever consider those butchered names as useful.

[RenDragon]

Its Rio Rancho New Mexico. So its in the city, but our neighborhood has taken over arid brush land. My backyard is a bit better soil than that the surrounding area. Also its about 4 feet away from a tree if that helps at all (though I have never seen them in the tree, but once in my house!).

Edited by RenDragon, October 8 2016 - 5:51 AM.

[gcsnelling]

Ok then, based on locality there are only two real options Solenopsis "molesta" or a Temnothorax. However with out a better photograph that is as good as it is going to get.

[dspdrew]

I'm betting on S. molesta.

[RenDragon]

Yeah, pretty much the best I can get at the moment as it is so small and I do not have a macro lens. S. molesta have stingers though right? Maybe too small for me to see though (since these guys are just itty bitty)?

[Mdrogun]

Yeah, pretty much the best I can get at the moment as it is so small and I do not have a macro lens. S. molesta have stingers though right? Maybe too small for me to see though (since these guys are just itty bitty)?

S. molesta stings can't penetrate human skin.

[gcsnelling]

 

Yeah, pretty much the best I can get at the moment as it is so small and I do not have a macro lens. S. molesta have stingers though right? Maybe too small for me to see though (since these guys are just itty bitty)?

S. molesta stings can't penetrate human skin.

 

Actually yes they can, I have been stung several times by them as well as Temnothorax. However I rather suspect Solenopsis is the culprit here.

[Canadian anter]

Yeah, pretty much the best I can get at the moment as it is so small and I do not have a macro lens. S. molesta have stingers though right? Maybe too small for me to see though (since these guys are just itty bitty)?

S. molesta stings can't penetrate human skin.

I once stuck my hand into an S molesta pre-flight swarm and it hurt