Bimorphic Solenopsis?

Help with identifying the species your ants

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StormDancer
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Bimorphic Solenopsis?

Post: # 38569Post StormDancer
Fri Jun 22, 2018 1:59 pm

Are some solenopsis species bimorphic? If so which ones?
Learn to dance in the rain, because after there are queens to find!

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Batspiderfish
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Re: Bimorphic Solenopsis?

Post: # 38573Post Batspiderfish
Fri Jun 22, 2018 2:24 pm

Some Solenopsis spp. are polymorphic, which means they have more than two worker castes -- many of the larger Solenopsis like S. invicta, S. xyloni, S. geminata, S. amblychila, and S. aurea have a wide range of worker forms. On the other hand, tiny thief-ant group Solenopsis like S. molesta are monomorphic.

Dimorphic would be a good way to describe workers with only two forms, like Pheidole; workers that can be either majors or minors, with nothing in-between.
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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StormDancer
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Re: Bimorphic Solenopsis?

Post: # 38577Post StormDancer
Fri Jun 22, 2018 2:33 pm

Thank you. You said the species of queen I had was likely s. xyloni but mouth parts would determine that. What would I be looking for on her mouth parts to determine that?
Learn to dance in the rain, because after there are queens to find!

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Batspiderfish
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Re: Bimorphic Solenopsis?

Post: # 38580Post Batspiderfish
Fri Jun 22, 2018 2:42 pm

You'd mainly be separating her from Solenopsis invicta. It's much easier to do with the workers, but the queens of S. invicta will have more needle-like clypeal teeth. Workers of S. invicta have that middle clypeal tooth. The clypeus is visually akin to the ant's "upper lip".

Solenopsis invicta:
Image

Solenopsis xyloni:
Image
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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StormDancer
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Re: Bimorphic Solenopsis?

Post: # 38585Post StormDancer
Fri Jun 22, 2018 2:57 pm

Very nice, thank you tons!

Do you know anything about the forelius? There's very little information out there on them that I can find.
Learn to dance in the rain, because after there are queens to find!

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Batspiderfish
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Re: Bimorphic Solenopsis?

Post: # 38587Post Batspiderfish
Fri Jun 22, 2018 3:01 pm

StormDancer wrote:
Fri Jun 22, 2018 2:57 pm
Very nice, thank you tons!

Do you know anything about the forelius? There's very little information out there on them that I can find.
Not off the top of my head, sorry. I have limited knowledge of southwestern ants. Species keys/descriptions from Antwiki, Navajo Nature, and Hymenoptera Online Database will be a lot of help if you can familiarize yourself with an ant anatomy chart.
Last edited by Batspiderfish on Fri Jun 22, 2018 3:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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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StormDancer
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2017 10:57 am
Location: Southeastern New Mexico

Re: Bimorphic Solenopsis?

Post: # 38588Post StormDancer
Fri Jun 22, 2018 3:04 pm

Lol no problem. I appreciate your help. Seems a lot of our ants are not well studied. I can blame anyone. It's hot and it seems like every form of life here is covered with spines or it bites and stings.
Learn to dance in the rain, because after there are queens to find!

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