6 replies to this topic

[ragingbananas]

Hello, i recently Captured a Queen and two additional Camponotus sp. Colonies. each is clearly the same Species. i am also Certain that these are either C. modoc or C. pennsylvanicus. When looking at both, they seem to be a match. what differences are there between the two? both are present in my area according to antwiki

 

Thanks

[ultraex2]

Modoc have small golden hairs on their gaster and are a dull black while pennsylvanicus don't have golden hairs and are "shinier".

[ragingbananas]

Thank you. can you then help me understand? please note the following Images. here both species seem to have these hairs

 

C. pennsylvanicus

 

http://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Camponotus_pennsylvanicus#mediaviewer/File:Camponotus_pennsylvanicus_worker.jpg

http://www.alexander...tus/i-cdkXS5V/A

 

Here you will see that these posted C. pennsylvanicus workers have Golden Hairs. 

 

C. modoc

 

But Check out this C. modoc Worker. Here the hairs on this worker seems to fit your description as well. 

 

http://www.antwiki.o...Tom_Murray).JPG

 

But this modoc worker has a "Shimmer" if you want to call it that, and it seems to match what I have. This image also seems to have golden hairs.

 

http://www.alexander...tus/i-MqLVpBx/A

 

What do you think? can you tell me what i am missing?

 

Thanks

[Nathant2131]

Modoc have small golden hairs on their gaster and are a dull black while pennsylvanicus don't have golden hairs and are "shinier".

C. pennsylvanicus have plenty of golden pubescence on their gasters.

Edited by Nathant2131, May 26 2017 - 9:58 AM.

[Canadian anter]

It's most likely modoc since you're in the western us

[ragingbananas]

C. Modoc was my guess as well. the differences are subtle, but these two species from what i have seen are so close.  ill go ahead an leave the full description to make this easier

 

Location of collection Little Cottonwood Canyon Utah (Just outside of Salt Lake)

2. Date of collection : May 23rd 2017
3. Habitat of collection : Forest. Found in a fallen tree soaking in run off. Wood very wet to the touch. Three Colonies Nesting together is close proximity. Collected all three queens and as many of the workers / brood as possible. 
4. Length : Queen 14mm. Workers (Minor) : 6mm
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture Black ants. head and thorax dull black. Gaster is a shimmering black due to hairs. gaster also has a striped pattern. legs are a deep Red.  
6. Distinguishing characteristics : one petiole node, no spines, Thorax is gracefully curved in an arc. Head size varies between queens, major workers and minor workers. Head shape also varies a bit between Majors/Queens/ Minors. minors have a thin ovalish shape, while the Queen and majors have a shape that is similar with the Camponotus Genus.
7. Anything else distinctive : These colonies where nested very close to one another. these colonies may have even shared some tunneling in the tree they where found in, but that is not a certain thing. Three difference queens of the same species where collected. one queen was positioned closely to the other two colonies in her own chamber no workers only brood in egg stage. Another queen, brood in larva stage with 4 - 8 workers. my guess is that she is just starting her second year. the third and final queen had about 50 workers, probably just beginning year 3. majors present in this colony. 
8. Nest description : See above.
9 . Pictures : This is of the year 2 colony

 

Edited by ragingbananas, May 26 2017 - 2:25 PM.

[Canadian anter]

Red legs are another sign of modoc. Red legged pennsylvanicus are very rare and as a result, sought out by some