another boring dentification request

Help with identifying the species your ants

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raydexter
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:54 pm
Location: Nevada

another boring dentification request

Post: # 38219Post raydexter
Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:23 pm

Hello,
After 4 years of searching the desert, I finally found an ant swarm engaged in nuptial flights. It turned out to be in a grocery store parking lot. Since I was naturally unprepared, I ran inside a bought all the measuring spoons from the ****. You know, the ones with the test tube like measuring chamber attached to a funny shaped spoon. I also bought a bag of cotton balls. Then, with tools in hand, my son and I proceeded to crawl around the cars attempting to capture newly matted queen without harming them. After many a strange look from passers by we triumphantly returned home with six medicine dispensers worth of ants.
The following are my notes to date:
Ant keeping record
5/5/18 Queens Captured 6 test tube setups. One with four queens. Water only setup.
Queens are 5.7mm in length auburn with gold striped on gasters between the plates.
5/11/18 Eggs spotted (may have been there sooner. First check) only one surviving queen in multi-queen setup.
6/7/2018 water gone from all setups. Need supplies to rework setup.
6/15/2018 set up second test tube face to face with first taped together with cotton ball spacer. Water only again. (forgot the sugar water until I was done.)
6/16/2018 queens will not move eggs larva or pupa to fresh tube.
6/17/2018First workers workers are 1.1mm and black.
6/18/2018 added piece of chopped cricket and granulated sugar to each test tube, half also got some fish food. Most tubes have 3 of 4 workers now.

Any ideas as to what species these might be? Image

raydexter
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:54 pm
Location: Nevada

Re: another boring dentification request

Post: # 38221Post raydexter
Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:30 pm

P.S. I tried to post a pic but the forum says it has reached its limit of allowed attachments. :(

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Batspiderfish
Posts: 3315
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
Location: Maine

Re: another boring dentification request

Post: # 38222Post Batspiderfish
Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:38 pm

Gotta upload to an image hosting site and link it here.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.

raydexter
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:54 pm
Location: Nevada

Re: another boring dentification request

Post: # 38225Post raydexter
Mon Jun 18, 2018 10:12 pm

Image

This happens to be the one virgin queen. She was more cooperative then the others that were to busy taking care of brood but they are all the same.

Thanks for your help. :)

raydexter
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:54 pm
Location: Nevada

Re: another boring dentification request

Post: # 39625Post raydexter
Tue Jul 03, 2018 1:49 am

OK, so either my picture was too blurry to be helpful or I've stumped you guys.
I had to go ahead and place orders for Nests as the test tube are filling up fast with workers.
I got a Solenopsis Hybrid Nest and a Tetramorium Hybrid Nest. I'll also try a soil nest and making my own nest with cinder block, silicone and glass maybe? With five new colonies I need to get creative fast! just hope these tiny workers can't escape the nests.
I'm still not sure what they are.

On a different note, I'm finding it surprisingly difficult to find talcum powder. All I can find is corn starch. Is it a valid substitute as an ant barrier? Seems doubtful...

Casualfriday
Posts: 46
Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2018 12:56 am
Location: Oklahoma

Re: another boring dentification request

Post: # 39631Post Casualfriday
Tue Jul 03, 2018 2:34 am

I use Vaseline on the underside of AC out worlds to keep them in. It works great. baby powder and rubbing alcohol mixed together to form a paste also works.
Keeper of:

solenopsis invicta x3
camponotus sp.
dorymyrmex sp.

raydexter
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:54 pm
Location: Nevada

Re: another boring dentification request

Post: # 39633Post raydexter
Tue Jul 03, 2018 4:01 am

The workers don't get stuck in the Vaseline and die? How often do you need to reapply it?

raydexter
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:54 pm
Location: Nevada

Re: another boring dentification request

Post: # 42197Post raydexter
Tue Jul 24, 2018 12:31 am

I'm going with Lacious neoniger

TheRealAntMan
Posts: 620
Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:59 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Re: another boring dentification request

Post: # 42216Post TheRealAntMan
Tue Jul 24, 2018 1:15 am

Doubt it’s L. Neoniger, their flights are later in August and early September.
An ants' strength can be rivaled by few animals compared to relative body size.

Thorond0r
Posts: 124
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:50 am
Location: Rhenen, Netherlands

Re: another boring dentification request

Post: # 43829Post Thorond0r
Tue Jul 24, 2018 4:59 am

Less blurry pictures would be helpfull
First year of antkeeping, already enjoying it!

Currently founding:

Lasius niger
Lasius umbratus
Lasius flavus


Still hoping to find a Formica queen.

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