I think this might be Formica subsericea based on my research, but don't have enough experience to be sure.
Body:
1. Location of collection. Just outside Wynne, AR
2. Date of collection (more important for ID's of queens). 6/30/18
3. Habitat of collection (ie: desert scrub, oak forest, riparian, etc.). Mixed hardwood forest
4. Length (to the nearest millimeter or 1/16th of an inch.) 12 mm
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture Mostly Black, but the gaster seems to have slightly lighter stripes; there are short yellowish hairs at the top of each lighter stripe; did not see any hairs on the thorax or head.
6. Distinguishing characteristics. Long antennal scape, looks like 12 antennal segments
7. Anything else distinctive (ie: odor, behavior, characteristics relative to others in the colony, etc.). not that I noticed
8. Nest description (if you can find the nest, and you're sure it belongs to the ant you collected) (ie: rotted log, volcano-shaped mound of coarse gavel 10cm in diameter, etc.). unsure, collected from a paved path
9. Nuptial flight time and date (if you witnessed the ant or it's colony having a nuptial flight or caught an alate you are confident was flying that day or time) probably 6/30/18 mid morning, based on when I collected her from the path
I was not able to get great pictures of her. I need to switch to glass test tests, my plastic ones are getting really beat up and it's messing with the focus on my phone.
