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Prospect Hill; Waltham, MA, USA 7.7.17

formica sp

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#1 Offline Myrmidon - Posted July 7 2017 - 6:54 AM

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I have been meaning to write this earlier but oh well, better late than never. Thanks for your help!

 

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Prospect Hill (park/trail/hilly area), Waltham, MA.

2. Date of collection: 7.5.17
3. Habitat of collection: In a forest, right off a hiking trail underneath dried leaves and next to a wall of rocks.

4. Length (from head to gaster): 5 – 6 mm.

5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:  Entirely red from head to petiole. The gaster is black.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: It has 1 spikey petiole. The thorax has about 2 bumps, with 1 more prominent (closest to the head).
7. Distinguishing behavior: Aggressive and fast. Also it seems to either have parasitized a colony of black Formica sp ants or enslaved them (hence both are in the tubes tending to pupae).
8. Nest description: I uncovered these ants with pupae under a pile of dried leaves on the forest floor off a hiking trail. I didn’t see a nest entrance and I think they were just warming/moving their brood or it could have been a satellite. Could have been a raid but I didn’t see ants attacking each other on collection.

 

IMG_3572_zpsrm1nsmwp.jpg

IMG_3567_zpsa5zexlgr.jpg

IMG_3559_zpsw8l9x0rc.jpg


  • rdurham02 likes this

Keeper of:

 

Prenolepis imparis (4 founding queens)

Camponotus pennsylvanicus (5 founding queens)

Reticulitermes flavipes (3 pairs, subterranean termite)

 


#2 Offline Nathant2131 - Posted July 7 2017 - 8:24 AM

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The black species is something in the fusca-group.
  • Myrmidon likes this

#3 Offline noebl1 - Posted July 7 2017 - 10:42 AM

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With the mix of Formica, could it be one of the slave driving ones lik http://www.antwiki.o...ca_pallidefulva ?

 

They have crazy raiding parties that I see at home from time to time.

 

EDIT: I don't think that's the one I am looking for, hold on...

 

EDIT2:  n/m was thinking http://www.antwiki.o...yergus_lucidus which doesn't seem right.  


Edited by noebl1, July 7 2017 - 10:51 AM.

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#4 Offline Myrmidon - Posted July 7 2017 - 11:28 AM

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With the mix of Formica, could it be one of the slave driving ones lik http://www.antwiki.o...ca_pallidefulva ?

 

They have crazy raiding parties that I see at home from time to time.

 

EDIT: I don't think that's the one I am looking for, hold on...

 

EDIT2:  n/m was thinking http://www.antwiki.o...yergus_lucidus which doesn't seem right.  

You went the same route I did. I also did an antwiki search and just got more confused. Though..... this seems kind of promising:

 

http://www.antwiki.o.../Formica_aserva

 

Formica aserva, perhaps? It seems to be the right location and it even has a pic with some with Formica fusca workers. But I'm no pro with this stuff so I'm not sure.

 

 

 

 
  • noebl1 likes this

Keeper of:

 

Prenolepis imparis (4 founding queens)

Camponotus pennsylvanicus (5 founding queens)

Reticulitermes flavipes (3 pairs, subterranean termite)

 


#5 Offline noebl1 - Posted July 7 2017 - 2:25 PM

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With the mix of Formica, could it be one of the slave driving ones lik http://www.antwiki.o...ca_pallidefulva ?

 

They have crazy raiding parties that I see at home from time to time.

 

EDIT: I don't think that's the one I am looking for, hold on...

 

EDIT2:  n/m was thinking http://www.antwiki.o...yergus_lucidus which doesn't seem right.  

You went the same route I did. I also did an antwiki search and just got more confused. Though..... this seems kind of promising:

 

http://www.antwiki.o.../Formica_aserva

 

Formica aserva, perhaps? It seems to be the right location and it even has a pic with some with Formica fusca workers. But I'm no pro with this stuff so I'm not sure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting; I have slave driving Formica here for sure as I see them going thru and raiding Formica colonies.  I need to look into F. aserva as that's a reasonable possibility.   I thought @salmon posted about some in a different thread, but couldn't find it.



#6 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted July 7 2017 - 6:23 PM

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Aserva means "no slaves", and while Formica aserva are a raiding species that will sometimes forego their namesake and raid other colonies, there are plenty of other sanguinea-group Formica which should be considered first.


Edited by Batspiderfish, July 7 2017 - 6:23 PM.

  • noebl1 likes this

If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

 

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

 

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Black lives still matter.






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