Red and Black ants on Long Island, NY

[AaronLINY]

Size: 4.5mm-5mm (3/16” approx)
When: 4:30pm EST 05/09/23
Where: Suffolk County NY (Pine Barrens)
Appearance: Reddish Head and Thorax, Black Abdomen.
Behavior: seemingly non-aggressive. All looked to be working. When disturbed them seemed to hide as opposed to confront me or a stick I used to prod a little.







Additional info: obviously not a queen. Likely some kind or worker ant. Seemed like it could be a Red and Black Carpenter Ant but they don't seem to make mounds like pictured. I’m very curious as I was able to spot 14 large mounds around one site. I’ve never seen structures like this near me in Long Island, NY before.

Any and all help greatly appreciated!!

[Antlover41157]

Images aren't working fro me probably just me because of computer problems but based on your description they might be formica

[AaronLINY]

Thank you! Here is a link to the album… https://imgur.com/gallery/Ml0ouo9

Hopefully that works

[AaronLINY]

Yes, you likely are correct about formica. A lot of what I read on Wikipedia seems to match up.

Might even be formica rufa maybe? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formica_rufa_species_group

[antperson24]

I'm going to say Formica exsectoides. They are known for making very large mounds. Here is the antwiki page for them: https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Formica_exsectoides
You say they are nonaggressive? F. exsectoides are very aggressive. Try poking a stick into one of their entrances and see if they swarm.

[AaronLINY]

Thanks!! So much of the description and appearance match up to them but definitely non-aggressive. I’d best describe them as fearful when approached.

Put a stick into one entrance and they avoided it. I finished walking the path and returned later and none were on or around the stick.

I also attempted to get them on to a white sheet of paper to photograph them but they would run off the edge to quickly.

After a few attempts to get one, I noticed the volume of ants on the hill dramatically decreased. They did not attempt to swarm me.

Thanks again for the help!

[antperson24]

Thanks!! So much of the description and appearance match up to them but definitely non-aggressive. I’d best describe them as fearful when approached.

Put a stick into one entrance and they avoided it. I finished walking the path and returned later and none were on or around the stick.

I also attempted to get them on to a white sheet of paper to photograph them but they would run off the edge to quickly.

After a few attempts to get one, I noticed the volume of ants on the hill dramatically decreased. They did not attempt to swarm me.

Thanks again for the help!

Alright, thanks for the information. If they are not aggressive they can not be F. exsectoides. That leaves F. ulkei and F. opacivntris from the exsecta group. I will do some research and see if I can get you a species.

Edit:
I believe the species is Formica ulkei. Here is the antwiki page for them:https://antwiki.org/wiki/Formica_ulkei
Do some looking on there and see if you think they match your ant.

[AaronLINY]

Hmm… both of those seem to match my ants appearance less than the F. Exsectoids.

Here is a video of my ants. It’s not great unfortunately but it’s something. https://youtu.be/RYNJIvMX5P0

I need a tube or supplies. One day I wanna have an ant habitat

[antperson24]

Hmm… both of those seem to match my ants appearance less than the F. Exsectoids.

Here is a video of my ants. It’s not great unfortunately but it’s something. https://youtu.be/RYNJIvMX5P0

I need a tube or supplies. One day I wanna have an ant habitat

In the video I can see their head color better and it does not match up with F. ulkei. Then that only leaves F. opacivntris which they are not found in your area. However, that does not necessarily mean they are not present there, they could be undiscovered in your state. Since they have not previously been found in your state, I would not feel right saying that is what they are. But I do know of a taxonomist who may be able to confirm, I will send him an email.

AntsCanada sells good test tubes, here is the link to his store: https://www.AntsCanada.com/

[antperson24]

F. opacivntris is only found over in the west, so a different climate. Based on that, I am now kind of doubting that they are that species. Could you get a video of them reacting to the stick being poked into their nest?