I found this queen roaming around along the ground which seemed like looking for nesting ground just around Iceberg Lake in Whistler. Current temperature in the area was about 18C (64F) and at night it could be close to 5C (41F).
QUEEN 62
1. Location of Collection: Iceberg Lake in Whistler, British Columbia (Coordinates 50.178804, -123.027538)
2. Date of Collection: 2017-08-26
3. Habitat of Collection: Around rocks on the beach of frigid lake.
4. Length: 10mm
5. Coloration: head and gaster are black, gaster/thorax is mostly shiny, antenae / legs are dark brown.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 12 antennae segments, no petiole node, 4 things hanging from the under jaw which look like sensors?, a solid exoskeleton (seems to make a similar sound when I drop a camponotus worker onto a petri dish)
7. Distinguishing behavior: in test tube, doesn't sit on the wet cotton side, seems to prefer the mid section.
I have additional request from earlier this month. I have been catching quite a few Formica podzolica and Lasius alienus, but these 4 in the following album seem too small to be either? They're only 7mm or just slightly under.
QUEEN 28-31
1. Location of Collection: Surrey, British Columbia (Coordinates 49.181608, -122.790008)
2. Date of Collection: 2017-08-02
3. Habitat of Collection: a couple crossing the sidewalk and some on the sandy dirt next to the bushy area with several trees.
4. Length: < 7mm
5. Coloration: head and gaster are black, gaster is mostly shiny, but mid section (2nd&3rd ring) is matte, mid body and legs are brown.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 12 antennae segments, no petiole node
7. Distinguishing behavior: