Tennessee 02/24/2017 Queen

[floyd331]

It seems very clearly to be Solenopsis.

do you think it is this kind of solenopsis
http://mississippientomologicalmuseum.org.msstate.edu/Researchtaxapages/Formicidaepages/genericpages/Solenopsis_hybrid.htm#.WLox81UrJEY

[Batspiderfish]

You would not identify it based on colors. You would have to run this ant through a species description or key (using anatomical features). The photographs are not sufficient for us to do this.

[Martialis]

You would not identify it based on colors. You would have to run this ant through a species description or key (using anatomical features). The photographs are not sufficient for us to do this.

I was thinking a Bot how its body is shaped, not its coloring.

[floyd331]

You would not identify it based on colors. You would have to run this ant through a species description or key (using anatomical features). The photographs are not sufficient for us to do this.

Do you know where a species description or key would be? I could not find one =(

[xTNxANTMANx]

I'm not sure, I need to post pics as well to identify her. She's roughly 6-8mm, and like a dark orange with black on her faster but its had to get a good pic of her cuz I caught her with a few workers she had already. Maybe like 10. They aren't to active just yet but I do know when I was catching them, the workers would bite my tool I was using to ease them in lol. Found them in a rotte piece of wood. The workers range between like 3-5mm. Roughly. I'll try to get pics tho. I'm in west tn by the way. What part r u in?

[floyd331]

I'm not sure, I need to post pics as well to identify her. She's roughly 6-8mm, and like a dark orange with black on her faster but its had to get a good pic of her cuz I caught her with a few workers she had already. Maybe like 10. They aren't to active just yet but I do know when I was catching them, the workers would bite my tool I was using to ease them in lol. Found them in a rotte piece of wood. The workers range between like 3-5mm. Roughly. I'll try to get pics tho. I'm in west tn by the way. What part r u in?

I'm in the east. I found mine in a hole she dug. She was by her self so i guess it's a claustral chamber she was in. Hope she is fertilized!

[SpeciesK]

What an odd-looking queen ant. They say there are native Solenopsis fire ants, I wonder if you found one? It's interesting that it is a light color and then suddenly gets dark partway down its gaster. Maybe if is a native then it's a new species and you have the only one known! Or not...

[Batspiderfish]

All of the Solenopsis fire ants in the Eastern United States are invasive species. The native Solenopsis xyloni used to live in these places, but they have been completely eradicated by non-natives. Thankfully, you can still find them in the west.

[Martialis]

All of the Solenopsis fire ants in the Eastern United States are invasive species. The native Solenopsis xyloni used to live in these places, but they have been completely eradicated by non-natives. Thankfully, you can still find them in the west.

Even Solenopsis geminata?

[Batspiderfish]

All of the Solenopsis fire ants in the Eastern United States are invasive species. The native Solenopsis xyloni used to live in these places, but they have been completely eradicated by non-natives. Thankfully, you can still find them in the west.

Even Solenopsis geminata?

Solenopsis geminata is not from North America. The fire ants found in the Southeast US are almost always Solenopsis invicta.