Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Zeeland MI - September 12 2017

queen zeeland michigan

  • Please log in to reply
5 replies to this topic

#1 Offline cfreidsma - Posted September 12 2017 - 6:02 PM

cfreidsma

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 84 posts
  • LocationZeeland, Michigan

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Zeeland, MI
2. Date of collection: September 12 around 6:30-7:30PM
3. Habitat of collection: Somewhat urban area, a trailer park. Found one on the edge of the pavement, a few under a tarp, two under a flower pot, some randomly scattered in the grass, and stopped looking after I got a few.
4. Length (from head to gaster): Around 9mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Stripes and lighter colored. This especially shows up outdoors in the light.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Only one has the wings left on
7. Distinguishing behavior: Standard queen behavior
8. Nest description: None

 

I am guessing these are Lasius. Hopefully some non-parasitic species. 

 

The first one I caught shortly curled up and started twitching. I am assuming that it got into insecticides or something before it got to my yard. These ones are alright for the time. 

 

When I got home from class today I saw one of the pavement ant colonies flying. They either had very tiny queens, or only males left at the nest though. The only winged individuals left were the size of the workers. After some time I spotted one of these queens running around, and then decided to see if I could find more. It was rather easy to find a bunch. 

 

ryG4Ckz85b.jpg

 

B1-VAkfU5Z.jpgHkeNAJGLqZ.jpg

 

BkvE0yG8q-.jpg

B1SVRJzLcW.jpgHJNE0yfI5W.jpgr1mECyfU5-.jpg



#2 Offline VoidElecent - Posted September 12 2017 - 6:11 PM

VoidElecent

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,339 posts
  • LocationPhiladelphia, PA.

Lasius sp. Likely L. neoniger.



#3 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted September 12 2017 - 6:13 PM

Batspiderfish

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,614 posts

Haha, the flying pavement ant colony sounds like it could have been the very elusive Tetramorium atratulum, formerly known as Anergates. These inquiline social parasite have wingless, pupoid males and host-worker-sized females that look a lot like males from other species.

 

The rest of your queens are Lasius. The lowermost one looks to be from the flavus group.


Edited by Batspiderfish, September 12 2017 - 6:18 PM.

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.

 

----

Black lives still matter.


#4 Offline T.C. - Posted September 12 2017 - 6:20 PM

T.C.

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,059 posts

Haha, the flying pavement ant colony sounds like it could have been the very elusive Tetramorium atratulum, formerly known as Anergates. These inquiline social parasite have wingless, pupoid males and host-worker-sized females that look a lot like males from other species.
 
The rest of your queens are Lasius. The lowermost one looks to be from the flavus group.


Yeah, I noticed that. ThE bottom one certainly isn't the same species as the rest, which appear to be Lasius neoniger.
“If I am killed for simply living, let death be kinder than man.” -Althea Davis

#5 Offline cfreidsma - Posted September 12 2017 - 7:16 PM

cfreidsma

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 84 posts
  • LocationZeeland, Michigan

Haha, the flying pavement ant colony sounds like it could have been the very elusive Tetramorium atratulum, formerly known as Anergates. These inquiline social parasite have wingless, pupoid males and host-worker-sized females that look a lot like males from other species.

I didn't keep any of them :/ I didn't have any luck with the last parasite I tried anyways. 

 

I'll just post some new pictures that I just took of all of them. This way all of the queens are represented. Here are all of the queens in random order:

#1

r1xKHZm8cb.jpg

 

#2

H1s9Zm89-.jpg

 

#3

HJlmyM7Icb.jpg

 

#4

SkxFmfQU9b.jpg

 

$5 - Glass tube

r1eIPzX89b.jpg

 

Most of the pictures in the previous post are of #5. It is the only one with wings and in a glass test tube. 



#6 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted September 12 2017 - 7:32 PM

Batspiderfish

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,614 posts

I'm pretty sure number 2 is Lasius nearcticus or Lasius flavus, but very detailed photographs are required to identify claustral Lasius down to the species. The darker Lasius could be L. neoniger or L. pallitarsis.


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.

 

----

Black lives still matter.






Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: queen, zeeland, michigan

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users