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Desert Ant Queen ID's


Best Answer Gregory2455 , November 27 2014 - 2:03 PM

Myrmecocystus cf. mexicanus

-

Solenopsis xyloni

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#1 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 6 2014 - 8:26 PM

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I am going to stuff two ID's into one topic. The only reason I am doing this is because I already have a good idea what they are, I just have some doubts.

Sorry these ID's are not done using the traditional template, I am in a hurry.

 

ID #1     Myrmecocystus sp.

Has all the features and size of Myrmecocystus mexicanus, but has a striped gaster.

gallery_114_224_466796.jpg

 

 

ID #2     Solenopsis sp.

Has size of Solenopsis xyloni, and the head and thorax are red too, but the gaster is yellow with black stripes.

gallery_114_224_81852.jpg



#2 Offline Anhzor - Posted August 7 2014 - 12:00 AM

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Number one looks like navajo second looks like s. Xyloni

#3 Offline dspdrew - Posted August 7 2014 - 12:23 AM

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Yes, I found quite a few of the first, and I think they're probably M. navajo. Also, exact mm measurements of them would help.



#4 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 8 2014 - 4:44 PM

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Do Myrmecocystus navajo have repletes like in Myrmecocystus mexicanus?



#5 Offline Anhzor - Posted August 8 2014 - 5:51 PM

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Yes I believe almost all have repletes

#6 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 12 2014 - 5:10 PM

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Now that one of the second ones died, I can look at her closer. Her head does not look like Solenopsis.



#7 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 12 2014 - 5:15 PM

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How large are the average Pheidole queens?



#8 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 12 2014 - 5:18 PM

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First off, unlike my other Solenopsis xyloni, her mandibles are not toothed looking, they are more flat, almost like a harvester ant's.



#9 Offline dspdrew - Posted August 12 2014 - 5:49 PM

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Yeah, that last one might be Pheidole. They can range in size, but 5 mm is the average of the ones I've seen.



#10 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 12 2014 - 8:09 PM

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Slightly more than 5mm.



#11 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 12 2014 - 8:10 PM

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Only time will tell, most of them have eggs and possibly small larvae...



#12 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 25 2014 - 7:28 PM

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If the second is Pheidole, it is in the range of this:

Pheidole_californica,_queens,I_ALW301.jp

(Not my image)



#13 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 25 2014 - 7:30 PM

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Although their heads seem a bit too big in that picture...

 

I regret not looking at the workers while they were flying so bad now.  :(



#14 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted November 27 2014 - 2:03 PM   Best Answer

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Myrmecocystus cf. mexicanus

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Solenopsis xyloni






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