8 replies to this topic

[Gregory2455]

1. Location of collection: Sandpoint, Idaho
2. Date of collection: (7-19-2014)
3. Habitat of collection: Pine Forest.
4. Length (from head to gaster): 9mm.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Very brilliant red while alive, but has lost color due to not being preserved properly.
6. Distinguishing behavior: Has shown parasitic behavior while alive, and died as a social parasite would if no host is found.

 

Just testing out the new microscope with this ID.

 

Head:

 

Profile:

 

Dorsal:

Edited by Gregory2455, December 25 2014 - 3:24 PM.

[Gregory2455]

Formica ravida?

[Crystals]

Can you get a full on head shot like antweb has? 

The curvature of the top of the head and the clypeal notch is often important when IDing parasitic Formica

Convex head curvature is raptiformica group; if its flat then it's probably rufa-group.

[Gregory2455]

That picture was hard enough to get without a proper stand! But really, that image was supposed to be a full head image like antweb, but I just cannot do so without the stand, or having them properly pinned. I was holding her on forceps!

[Gregory2455]

I will try.

[Gregory2455]

Does this work??? I tried to show specifically the curvature of the top of the head.

Edited by Gregory2455, December 26 2014 - 1:00 PM.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, a lot of time's they will need to be at one exact angle vertically.

[James C. Trager]

Clypeus is virtually, and its notch totally invisible in the second head shot. But based on the first images, I think F. ravida.

[Gregory2455]

Oops, just noticed I put the wrong image for the second one... Oh well, thanks DoctorAnt.