Queen ID - Memphis area - 6.15.23

[vstrelow]

Found one of these on the truck window before noon, with wings. Found a second later, without. By this time the first had shed its wings. One escaped before I was able to snap a photo, but both were nearly identical with one being slightly larger.

Size is around 7-8mm
Color is dark. Abdomen black/near black. Head is dark red, thorax appears to be mostly black, but some red is seen in light.

Photos in natural light; flash made them appear solid

[antperson24]

The image did not work. Just try using a link.

[vstrelow]

Guess they were only showing up for me. Been a long time since I've embedded a Google image, apologies.

Below are links to two folders that should be public (with link). First folder (Memphis 1) is representative of three of the elates found. Second folder (Memphis 2) contains three photos of a second type of elate.

They all have a similar shape, but the last one has a distinctly different color/pattern and looks like she may be a little swollen. Most notable color variation is a light patch toward the front of her Gaston. (Images in this folder may still be finishing upload).

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/186MB8e7AgIaM6_ga1KSbsrRNtcu9PM_z

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AjHiB01r0V7NtAyf-obhhaTP4dICYoM6

[vstrelow]

Trying again...

Ant type 1

Found around mid day, three total
Memphis, TN area on 6.15.23
Overcast, spotty showers in the early afternoon
Dark in color, appears black under flash, head is dark red, small amount of red on the thorax. Gaster is black.
All three were 7-8mm in length

[vstrelow]

Ant type 2

Found early afternoon
Memphis, TN area on 6.15.23
Overcast, spotty showers in the early afternoon
Dark in color, lighter and larger than type 1, head is deep red, rust and black on the thorax. Gaster is very dark, but has a light patch near the front.
8-9mm in length

[vstrelow]

As I look at the photos, appears mandibles may be quite different between the two types as well. Second type appears to be much sharper and come to a point. Second type seems to have a wider, serrated contact surface between the two mandibles.

[vstrelow]

First type is larger, sorry, for confusion.

[vstrelow]

Possibly Crematogaster ashmeadi for type 1?

[vstrelow]

Or scutellaris?

[antperson24]

The images worked. The first one is a Crematogaster species. The second is Solenopsis invicta. The swollenness of the gaster would be from eggs.