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Messor queen id please

messor queen id

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8 replies to this topic

#1 Offline skocko76 - Posted August 17 2017 - 8:19 AM

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Hi ant lovers!

17.AUG.2017.  Split, Croatia, Europe

I found this queen bullied by two majors in a red Messor colony.

The majors were pulling the queen by the wings pretty violently, and she seemed in distress.

The queen is black (red-ish legs, though), so I concluded she is not one of their alates.

She most likely had poor luck choosing the landing spot, or perhaps they evicted her for some reason.

She is 11-12mm long, shiny black.

Does she look like Messor barbarus to you?

Also, a few photos of the red colony. Are they the same species as the queen?

Notice the shrunk gasters, it has been rather dry for months.

Thanks!

 

 


Edited by skocko76, August 17 2017 - 8:22 AM.


#2 Offline VoidElecent - Posted August 17 2017 - 8:48 AM

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Messor wasmanni.


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#3 Offline skocko76 - Posted August 17 2017 - 8:56 AM

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Yes, I surfed a bit and that looks spot on.

The only confusing thing is that M. wasmanni minors are described as being almost black, however, these are almost red.

Is it common for ants to kick an alate out of the colony?



#4 Offline Jonathan21700 - Posted August 17 2017 - 2:00 PM

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Wait is the first worker photographed related to the other workers below? The ones below are M. wasmanni but the top worker looks like a different species.

The queen might not be that species thought, other possible species is M. capitatus and more unlikely M. structor as they fly in April. It seems a bit early they usually fly around September-October.



#5 Offline skocko76 - Posted August 18 2017 - 12:40 AM

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Yes, all photos were taken at the colony entrance hole, so I suspect they're the same species.

Here is a photo for size comparison. 

Granted, some aggression was observed, dashing at one-another and then stopping prematurely. Not sure the behavior was exclusively between red and black-red variety, I'm pretty sure all did it.

Also, battered gasters could indicate fighting.

Still, the similarity between the black-red and red worker in the photo below looks like same species to me.


Edited by skocko76, August 18 2017 - 12:43 AM.


#6 Offline skocko76 - Posted August 19 2017 - 1:59 PM

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I read someplace that majors of M. wasmanni can have red head and thorax. The ones in the photo are not majors, but not minors either. So, I guess there is nothing to be confused over

#7 Offline Jonathan21700 - Posted August 20 2017 - 12:02 PM

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Yeah, you are probably right.



#8 Offline skocko76 - Posted August 24 2017 - 1:17 PM

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Well, the rescued queen, so happily eating a piece of peach in the photo, has died.  :(

I guess she was sick and kicked out the colony on account of that.

 


#9 Offline AntsMaryland - Posted August 24 2017 - 1:28 PM

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I am sorry to hear that. I hope you have other colonies to take care of! :(


Aphaenogaster cf. rudis 

Tetramorium immigrans 

Tapinoma sessile

Formica subsericea

Pheidole sp.

Camponotus nearcticus






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