11 replies to this topic

[Aaron567]

Today I was walking in the woods and saw an ant crawling on a palm frawn that looked like Crematogaster at first, but after looking at it closer, I have noticed that it is different from the typical Crematogaster here. 

 

Black in color, 3mm-3.5mm in length, and holds its gaster up like Crematogaster do. But, the gaster of this ant is not heart-shaped and a lot smaller than other Crematogaster species. It seems to show similar behavior to them though. I'm not sure of this, but the thorax of this ant may also be slightly more elongated. Overall, it looks like Crematogaster but at the same time it doesn't. I searched AntWeb and out of the 13 Crematogaster species we have here, it didn't look like any of them.

 

Edit: I did some research and I am thinking these are Colobopsis impressa. The minor workers of C. impressa actually mimic Crematogaster which makes a lot more sense. 

 

Here is a video of one I took:

https://www.youtube....h?v=ehChfkqxB0U

 

And here are the pictures:

 

Here is an Alex Wild picture of C. impressa:

Edited by Aaron567, March 5 2017 - 8:27 AM.

[Martialis]

The video alone isn't enough to make an accurate guess.

Edited by Martialis, March 4 2017 - 5:31 PM.

[CamponotusLover]

Its neat that you found this. Its a very strange ant and I can't tell what it is, the gaster looks like that of a crematogaster, except for the posture like- I don't know how to explain what I mean, but anyway.

 

 

If its crematogaster you might of found a new species!

 

Only 50% of the ants species in the world have been discovered -Brian Fischer

[Aaron567]

The video alone isn't enough to make an accurate guess.

 

I figured. 

 

Check back tomorrow, I will likely have pictures up.

Edited by Aaron567, March 4 2017 - 5:39 PM.

[Aaron567]

Photos are now added.

[Nathant2131]

Are the first two pictures yours?

 

If this really is Colobopsis, nice find!

[Aaron567]

Are the first two pictures yours?

 

If this really is Colobopsis, nice find!

 

Yes, all the pictures except the last one are mine. I really hope I find a queen of these! They seem awesome.

[Leo]

i found one once NOT easy to raise

[Nathant2131]

i found one once NOT easy to raise

I have heard they are tough to raise too.

[Leo]

she ripped the cottonball apart, so i gave her some wood, she dug into it and died 

[Aaron567]

she ripped the cottonball apart, so i gave her some wood, she dug into it and died 

 

Aw. That may explain why I haven't seen many people keeping them

[Leo]

RIP