Newbie Seeking Ident

[notmyidea]

Hi!

Brand new to this whole ant keeping business!! I've always been fascinated with insects and am excited to try this out.

I've been doing a lot of research, reading and watching videos, to understand the process.
I've spent the last few days out looking for queens and I think I have found two but being new to this, I am not sure. My guess is that each of these are Camponotus herculeanus queens (if they are indeed queens). I live in the Pacific Northwest Area of North America. Sorry for the pour quality of the pictures!

Exhibit A:


This second one still has wings but she keeps cleaning her abdomen so I am assuming she's mated.

Exhibit B:



I've put both in test tube set-ups. So can any experts confirm my hypothesis? Thank you!!!
Jason

[notmyidea]

Hopefully Images will show now:

Exhibit A:


Exhibit B:

[Ants4fun]

Actually those are Formica. Possibly Formica fusca.

[notmyidea]

Thanks for the responses. I definitely agree, a Formica species. I am tending towards fusca but could very well be cinerea.

The second queen has already taken off her wings (after a few hours)!!

[antscanada]

Definitely Formica queen, but as for species it will take a really knowledgeable pro to pin that. There are so many Formica species that look the same and come from the same place.

Hopefully until then you can be ok with just Formica sp for ID. Most Formica have the same care and requirements anyway.