21 replies to this topic

[Californian Anter]

This ant was caught at my school in Fremont, California. It's a suburban city next to a small mountain range. I live near Mission San Jose.

She was captured on 11/7/16, I never knew any queens flew this late. She landed right on my English paper.

My school is next to a small-ish creek, but is very dry where I caught her.

She is probably from 7-9 mm long, black, and the antennae are very much v-shaped, mandibles are on the small side, head is almost heart shaped.

The gaster was pretty small at first, just a little wider than the thorax, but has swollen a little.

Nearby, there appears to be some sort of Lasius colony. I didn't find the nest. However, the same day of the capture, there was what I think a nuptial flight of some unknown ant species. They were about 4-5 mm long, black with a hint of brown, and nested under some wood between 2 slabs of concrete. When my friend put one down my shirt it bit.

Currently housed in one chamber of an omni-nest large, sealed off with cotton and hydrated via the side sponges.

 

Pictures: I apologize for the bad pictures, they were shot on my phone, had glare, and the queen wasn't very cooperative. I will probably try to take some better pictures eventually.

 

 

http://s1380.photobu...html?sort=3&o=0

 

http://s1380.photobu...html?sort=3&o=2

Edited by Californian Anter, November 12 2016 - 8:45 PM.

[Alabama Anter]

We definitely need better pictures. But it could be a Lasius social parasite

[Californian Anter]

We definitely need better pictures. But it could be a Lasius social parasite

I definitely will try to get better pictures. On the other hand, it does kinda look like a Lasius umbratus.

[dspdrew]

http://www.formicult...to-post-photos/

 

 

[Canadian anter]

looks like dorymyrmex insanus to me

[Alabama Anter]

looks like dorymyrmex insanus to me

How?! It's too big

[Canadian anter]

Dorymyrmex queens are usually 7 or 8 mm long....

[Californian Anter]

http://www.formicult...to-post-photos/

 

 

Thanks Drew!

Dorymyrmex queens are usually 7 or 8 mm long....

I think I read somewhere they are about 5 mm long though.

[Alabama Anter]

You r right. I have no idea where Canadian Anter got this information. I have a Dormymyrmex queen myself and she is 4-5mm long

[Californian Anter]

Is this a better picture? She still hasn't dumped her wings.

[Kevin]

The slight point in the gaster is making me thing crematogaster, but I know that's not right from the head. Try to zoom out and get your camera close to the ant with good lighting, and focus the shot.

Also, what formicarium is she in?

[Alabama Anter]

Is this a better picture? She still hasn't dumped her wings.

Definitely not Dormymyrmex

[Californian Anter]

Another bunch of pictures. She was kinda annoyed by me, though she was drinking water and grooming herself earlier.

[Californian Anter]

Also, these aren't exactly the species, they're just one of the kinds of ants running around. There's another bunch of pure black ones running around which I will try to get a picture of.

[Alabama Anter]

On second thought it looks like Crematogaster actually

[Batspiderfish]

Looks like a Crematogaster queen to me. The workers are either Prenolepis imparis or Nylanderia, I think.

[Saftron]

Yeah I was guessing Crematogaster Coarctata

Edited by Antkeeperxxx, November 16 2016 - 8:27 PM.

[Canadian anter]

Yeah guys, I was SO off I have no idea what I was saying. She is definently a Crematogaster queen. I recommend you don't try too hard to pinpoint the species as Crematogaster in CA are notoriously hard to ID. As for the workers, I think they are Prenolepis imparis because Nylanderia seem to be smaller and more squat. Also in my defence, There are a few sources that list Dorymyrmex as 6-10mm long. Dorymyrmex insanus is a group of multiple species, so there are bound to be some larger ones.

[Californian Anter]

Thanks everyone!

[SamKeepsAnts]

are you sure the queen is fertile? if she just landed on you she might not be.