Queen Identification

Help with identifying the species your ants

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Firecatto21
Posts: 91
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 1:58 pm
Location: Southern Spain

Queen Identification

Post: # 36122Post Firecatto21
Sat May 19, 2018 11:39 pm

Yesterday I found this queen, meaning that she has her nuptial flight in May. I also live in Europe but I don't know the species of this ant.
Here is a link to a folder with the images of the ant queen:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1Lmwkj4U5H4Vb1IFnIDDKa0bviQTxqeoq

WhiteRose94
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu May 10, 2018 8:18 pm

Re: Queen Identification

Post: # 36124Post WhiteRose94
Sun May 20, 2018 12:00 am

Hmn, she may be a species of formica, but I'm not sure. I'm a newbie to ant keeping, caught my first two earlier this month lol. But yours there looks a lot like my two. Do you know about how long they are in mm?

Firecatto21
Posts: 91
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 1:58 pm
Location: Southern Spain

Re: Queen Identification

Post: # 36129Post Firecatto21
Sun May 20, 2018 3:26 am

Around 12mm
Keeper of:
-Messor Barbarus x2
-Messor capitatus
-Camponotus Herculeanus
-Temnothorax
-Monomorium sp.
-Plagiolepis
-Messor barbarus unmated princess

Firecatto21
Posts: 91
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2017 1:58 pm
Location: Southern Spain

Re: Queen Identification

Post: # 36134Post Firecatto21
Sun May 20, 2018 3:47 am

Firecatto21 wrote:
Sun May 20, 2018 3:26 am
Around 12mm
Actually, around 1 cm
Keeper of:
-Messor Barbarus x2
-Messor capitatus
-Camponotus Herculeanus
-Temnothorax
-Monomorium sp.
-Plagiolepis
-Messor barbarus unmated princess

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

Re: Queen Identification

Post: # 36136Post Batspiderfish
Sun May 20, 2018 8:09 am

Formica rufibarbis.

Sometimes queens leave their nest because of a disturbance or being ejected by other queens. I have seen Formica dealates way outside of their nuptial schedule.
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.

Firecatto
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Jul 08, 2017 1:05 pm
Location: Alicante

Re: Queen Identification

Post: # 36224Post Firecatto
Tue May 22, 2018 5:49 am

Some poeple say it is formica rufa or formica sanguenia... I need help identifying this ant

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

Re: Queen Identification

Post: # 36227Post Batspiderfish
Tue May 22, 2018 7:13 am

That's a common layman's reaction to black and red Formica, but the fusca group is not just made up of black ants. The proportions (large gaster, modestly sized head) point to her being a claustral species.
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.

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