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Elko County, NV 2/23/2018

ant queen id help camponotus pogonomyrmex

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6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline CallMeCraven - Posted April 23 2018 - 6:13 PM

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Body:
1. Location of collection (ie: park/area, city/town, state/province, country). the Pogonomyrmex was caught near the south fork of the Humboldt River, Camponotus (?) in Spring Creek, NV.

2. Date of collection (more important for ID's of queens). 4/22/2018
3. Habitat of collection (ie: desert scrub, oak forest, riparian, etc.). Sagebrush steppe
4. Length (to the nearest millimeter or 1/16th of an inch.) Pogonomyrmex is 9mm, Camponotus is 15mm.
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture : Pogonomyrmex is bright red uniformally along its entire body; Camponotus is mostly black with red hues, golded stripes and hairs on abdomen.
6. Distinguishing characteristics : Pogonomyrmex has two petioles creating a disjointed look to its body, and sparse hairs under its head, but not the typical beard you would expect. Camponotus has a single large triangular petiole.
7. Anything else distinctive : Camponotus were all caught between 8-9pm on a warmer night, after a 75f day. A few dead male alates were found scattered around on the concrete. After I got them all separated into their own containers, I noticed a distinct vinegar smell.
8. Nest description : Local Camponotus found under rocks and in water main.

9. Nuptial flight time and date : Sunset, April 22, 2018

 

I am fairly confident the smaller red ant is Pogonomyrmex occidentalis but would like someone else to confirm. I am speculating the larger queens are Camponotus, possibly Camponotus essigi and again I appreciate any further help.

 

Pictures in Spoilers:

Spoiler

 

TIA for any help.


  • VoidElecent likes this

Current Colony:

 

4x Camponotus (hyatti?)

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left.

-Aldo Leopold


#2 Offline CallMeCraven - Posted April 23 2018 - 9:18 PM

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Well I caught four more of the big queens just now while walking my dogs. Up to 22 now. Test tubes get here Wednesday; my wife is ready to have her Tupperware back.

Current Colony:

 

4x Camponotus (hyatti?)

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left.

-Aldo Leopold


#3 Offline CallMeCraven - Posted April 24 2018 - 7:54 PM

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I caught 8 more of the Camponotus tonight. That makes 30 total. Someone on the Facebook page suggested they are Camponotus hercuLeanus, but I am pretty sure they don't occur in northern Nevada.

Current Colony:

 

4x Camponotus (hyatti?)

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left.

-Aldo Leopold


#4 Offline MegaMyrmex - Posted April 25 2018 - 3:37 AM

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First is definitiely Pogonomyrmex occidentalis, second one is camponotus sp. but not sure which species.
  • CallMeCraven likes this

Proverbs 6:6-8 New International Version (NIV)

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
    consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
    and gathers its food at harvest.

 


#5 Offline CallMeCraven - Posted April 25 2018 - 8:19 PM

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Found two dead today as I was putting them into the test tubes that Amazon delivered
Made up for it by catching four more while walking my dogs tonight.

Current Colony:

 

4x Camponotus (hyatti?)

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left.

-Aldo Leopold


#6 Offline CallMeCraven - Posted May 3 2018 - 4:06 PM

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So the first queen i checked, of the group outside of their storage box, 1 out of 5 had eggs... and they were different, at least for me. The eggs (3) were a burnt orange color instead of the normal white/beige color. Is this normal for Camponotus in general, or does this help me narrow down what species I have?


Current Colony:

 

4x Camponotus (hyatti?)

 

 

____________________________________________________

 

Harmony with land is like harmony with a friend; you cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left.

-Aldo Leopold


#7 Offline YsTheAnt - Posted May 10 2018 - 11:04 AM

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I have had camponotus queens lay pink eggs, yellow eggs, white eggs, and orange eggs to date. Nothing to worry about :).

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