Small Queen Identification--Formica? Lasius?

Help with identifying the species your ants

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Shellback13202
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2023 6:52 pm

Small Queen Identification--Formica? Lasius?

Post: # 99866Post Shellback13202
Sat Jul 01, 2023 7:50 pm

So I was actually outside trying to find an insect to sacrifice to my Venus fly trap and saw a little ant, and when I picked it up it really looked like a queen to me, but I'm still rather new at this. Its small, so maybe formica? Lasius? I tried to compare it to pictures on google, but its so small even with a magnifying glass my novice eye couldn't distinguish what type of queen (or confirm it is, in fact, a queen).

Size: 6mm
When: 6:30 pm, July 1 2023
Where: Northern Indiana, town, there is a forest/nature preserve behind my yard. She was on my deck, its an overcast, hot, super humid day out.
Appearance: black, possibly with orange coloration on bottom of gaster, legs (a bit difficult to tell)
Behaviour: slowly walking around the test tube; I haven't covered it in foil yet.
Picture(s): Pictures are a little blurry because of zooming in.

https://imgur.com/6Wgq9XL
https://imgur.com/Wdu1GpR
https://imgur.com/0l0oUMA
https://imgur.com/qAyPSyo

Thanks for any info you can give!

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RubyAntKeeper77
Posts: 127
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:31 pm
Location: powell wyoming

Re: Small Queen Identification--Formica? Lasius?

Post: # 99868Post RubyAntKeeper77
Sat Jul 01, 2023 8:00 pm

I can confirm that it is a queen.

I can tell you it is a species of camponotus.
So don’t expect workers for at least a month.

Are you an experienced ant keeper?
Why don’t more people like ants?
Is anyone from Wyoming who wants to sell ants?

You can email me about ants at Tucker.reynolds13@gmail.com

Shellback13202
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2023 6:52 pm

Re: Small Queen Identification--Formica? Lasius?

Post: # 99869Post Shellback13202
Sat Jul 01, 2023 8:13 pm

Thanks for the info, I have one carpenter ant colony already, so I have a general idea. This queen is so much smaller, I assumed it was a different type; do you know what species of campo?

Shellback13202
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2023 6:52 pm

Re: Small Queen Identification--Formica? Lasius?

Post: # 99884Post Shellback13202
Mon Jul 03, 2023 11:45 am

Are you sure it isn't Tetramorium? The more I look, along with the size, I'm beginning to think it might be.

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antperson24
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:01 pm
Location: North East Iowa

Re: Small Queen Identification--Formica? Lasius?

Post: # 99893Post antperson24
Tue Jul 04, 2023 7:01 am

She is actually Tetramorium immigrans. You can tell she is not from the subfamily Fomicinae by the two segmented petiole, distinctive of the subfamily Myrmicinae.
Why keep ants that aren't found in your yard?
There are so many fascinating ants right where you live!
I disagree with the keeping/buying of ants that aren't in your area.

Join Ants, Plants, and Myrmecology: https://discord.gg/BeQuNf8yTN

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