Amatuer looking for confirmation

[FatMug]

Hey everyone!

I am very new to this, but have been watching the AntsCanada videos for months! I was very lucky to catch, what I believe to be, a Camponotus pennsylvanicus queen. When I caught her she still had her wings, she has since, though, shed one set (still has a set of wings attached, though...) and has laid several eggs, a few of which have reached the larval stage. At this point, I'm really just looking for confirmation of the species, and maybe a little confirmation that I'm doing the right things, so far, heh. Thanks.

Pics: http://imgur.com/a/uDVgJ

[Gregory2455]

Shes a queen! She is a Camponotus alright!

[Ants4fun]

But definately not pennsylvanicus. Where are you located?

[antscanada]

She may be a Camponotus noveboracensis or C. vicinus or some other related species. Great catch!

They take usually around 2 months to get from egg to worker. They tend to take awhile. Great work so far!

Mikey

[Gregory2455]

She may be a Camponotus noveboracensis or C. vicinus or some other related species. Great catch!

They take usually around 2 months to get from egg to worker. They tend to take awhile. Great work so far!

Mikey

Not C.vicinus if this is from GA.

[SweetDirtyTooth]

If the Queen is laying eggs and and they have already reached pupae stage and still has wings how does she survive? I though They needed to eat the wing muscles

[FatMug]

@Ants4Fun I live in South East Georgia, USA. About 45 minutes north-west of Savannah, GA. I found her outside at a friend's house, she was on the mortar between bricks.

@sweetdirtytooth She has dropped 2 wings, but still has a set. I found that odd, too. But I'm hoping she's feritilized & still laying female eggs, despite the wings.


@AntsCanada Wow, thanks for the response and reassurance, Mikey! Huge fan, and I really appreciate what you do!!

I can try to take some better pictures later on today, if that would make identifying her easier, but if not, is care for these species pretty similar? Anything I need to be on the lookout for? From what I gather, I probably won't have to move her into a proper formicarium for a few months (about 20 workers, yeah?), so in the mean time it's okay to just... leave her be, right?


Thanks a ton for the responses, y'all!

[antscanada]

From what I gather, I probably won't have to move her into a proper formicarium for a few months (about 20 workers, yeah?), so in the mean time it's okay to just... leave her be, right?

Right. I love that you'v done your research! Great stuff! Good luck with this one.

[FatMug]

I've spent most of the day looking at pictures, and I think this may be Camponotus decipiens. More than happy to hear any other ideas though!

[Ants4fun]

I am thinking Camponotus discolor. Do you have the length in millimeters.