5 replies to this topic

[smares]

1. Park

2. 6-7-18  ~6pm
3. oak woods with tall grass. many fallen trees. has a pond and stream running through it.
4. I didn't want to stress them out so I didn't try to measure any of them.

 

I am just wondering if any might be queens as none had wings.

 

Very small. kinda look like a Dracula ant or ponera. Black. Found under a log.

 

Found under a log. Blocky shape. moves like a wasp. red with striped abdomen. close in size to pogonomymex ociddenalis. Cute as heck!

 

Big! black. found running across the sidewalk.

 

 

 

 

[Waganga]

I think #3 is definitely a worker. It looks really similar to the F. Argentea I have in my back yard....

They run around like craaaaazy, they're very fast. I thought they were carpenter ants till I started to research them. 

 

#2 looks like some kind of bee?? But it doesn't have wings. Do it's antennae have elbows in them? It's frikken adorbs! 

 

Re measurement: I just lay a ruler underneath/next to the container I'm housing the insect in, so it will be in most of/all of the shots I take. I find that's a pretty easy way to get a measurement without additional stress to the animal. I just count the millimeters up later when I'm reviewing the pictures.

[CNewton]

People are going to need actual location for ID's. At least generic state or province.  Your 2nd "ant" is a "velvet ant", a wingless wasp.

[Waganga]

People are going to need actual location for ID's. At least generic state or province.  Your 2nd "ant" is a "velvet ant", a wingless wasp.

 

The location is in the title: Lakewood, Colorado, USA

[sericultivist]

1st one looks like Hypoponera opacior to me, or a Stigmatomma species. 2nd is a flightless wasp commonly called a velvet ant, they are parasites of small ground dwelling bee hives. 3rd one is definitely a Camponotus species, probably C. pennsylvanicus. 

[AntsBC]

#2 and #3 aren't queens (I don't think #2 is even an ant, and #3 is a camponotus worker, most likely c.pennsylvanicus). I can't tell if #1 is a queen, you need to take closer clearer pics of it.