10 replies to this topic

[Cindy]

1. Randolph MA

2. 4/2/17

3. My backyard, in leaf litter near some oak trees

4. ~3-4 mm

5. Dark brown

6. Two petiole nodes 

7. Was foraging, kind of slow moving

8. No nest found

 

 

Edited by Cindy, April 2 2017 - 12:43 PM.

[noebl1]

Is it a Myrmecina (Americana)? 

[Cindy]

Whatever it is, it really enjoys burrowing into the cotton of the test tube. I saw a couple more in the same area but couldn't catch them!

 

Edit: Added more pictures to the first post

Edited by Cindy, April 2 2017 - 12:34 PM.

[thosaka]

It must be nice to have a colony in your yard. I got 0 ants in my yard. I'd dig the hell out of the yard to find that queen  .

[noebl1]

Check out ant #2 in my post from August:

http://www.formicult...sachusetts-usa/

 

That's a Myrmecina alate (I *just* took them out of hibernation today as well... were very active in the cooler already.)

[Cindy]

Check out ant #2 in my post from August:

http://www.formicult...sachusetts-usa/

 

That's a Myrmecina alate (I *just* took them out of hibernation today as well... were very active in the cooler already.)

I think that's it. The head shape is identical. I was going to post another picture up for ID of the 3rd ant I caught, but upon closer inspection they are the same (I just caught them in different places, the other location behind a sidewalk crevice). Thanks!

[noebl1]

I think that's it. The head shape is identical. I was going to post another picture up for ID of the 3rd ant I caught, but upon closer inspection they are the same (I just caught them in different places, the other location behind a sidewalk crevice). Thanks!

 

 

Hope I'm right, worst case Batspiderfish will correct me

 

I was thinking of starting a journal on my two Myrmecina de-elates, but not sure how they are going to do.  I started a spring tail culture for them, and tried two techniques:

Queen 1 - AC test tube portal, with a shallow mix of coconut fibers and substrate from the springtails (with springtails) in it.

Queen 2 - Test tube 1/2 filled with water, with a cotton ball (like the classic queen tube setup), coconut fiber and substrate from the springtails (with springtails) in it.  This is then taped to the queens test tube.

Edited by noebl1, April 2 2017 - 12:51 PM.

[Cindy]

 

I think that's it. The head shape is identical. I was going to post another picture up for ID of the 3rd ant I caught, but upon closer inspection they are the same (I just caught them in different places, the other location behind a sidewalk crevice). Thanks!

 

 

Hope I'm right, worst case Batspiderfish will correct me

 

I was thinking of starting a journal on my two Myrmecina de-elates, but not sure how they are going to do.  I started a spring tail culture for them, and tried two techniques:

Queen 1 - AC test tube portal, with a shallow mix of coconut fibers and substrate from the springtails (with springtails) in it.

Queen 2 - Test tube 1/2 filled with water, with a cotton ball (like the classic queen tube setup), coconut fiber and substrate from the springtails (with springtails) in it.  This is then taped to the queens test tube.

 

I think that'd be a good idea. I haven't seen any Myrmecina journals yet so not sure if they are semi-claustral or not. I would definitely follow your journal though. If these are indeed Myrmecina sp. I have a bunch of them around my house.

[Vincent]

I'm no ant expert, but I believe it is a black ant.

[Batspiderfish]

Tetramorium worker. Notice the shape of the first petiole.

[Cindy]

Tetramorium worker. Notice the shape of the first petiole.

 

Oh, that explains the area of collection. I saw a lot of them running along a sidewalk crack, which was filled with sand. Tetramorium seems like the best answer. Thank you!