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GAN Farmer in Kentucky

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 2:19 am
by AntsOfKentucky
I currently have 10 Camponotus pennsylvanicus queens for sale, $30 each. All were recently caught but all are tending to batches of at least 5 to 15 eggs.
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Re: GAN Farmer in Kentucky

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 2:43 am
by JackPayne
Those images don't seem to be camponotus.

Re: GAN Farmer in Kentucky

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 2:50 am
by AntsOfKentucky
What do you think they could be then? Im pretty sure they are from the most common carpenter ant species in KY but maybe they aren't. I have noticed a lot of these male drones flying around each year before I catch the queens. Thought they might be a different species, maybe they are the same?
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Re: GAN Farmer in Kentucky

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:02 am
by AntsOfKentucky
Oh and I do apologize. I just read that ants aren't allowed to be sold on the forum. I tried to modify the post but I couldn't. However if their are any local ant farmers that would like to get together and trade or adopt some ants please message me. I only plan on keeping two or three this year so their will be many more available.

Re: GAN Farmer in Kentucky

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:41 am
by JackPayne
I'm not great shakes at identifying, but these queens seem to be either *solenopsis* or *pheidole*. Although I'd lean towards solenopsis.

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This is solenopsis, which I believe these queens are.


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And this is Camponotus Pennsylvanicus, these can get up to 2-3cm in size.

Re: GAN Farmer in Kentucky

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:43 am
by JackPayne
By the way, this is another species of fire ant or solenopsis, that I believe is closer to queens.

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Re: GAN Farmer in Kentucky

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 7:19 am
by AntsOfKentucky
I've read that fire ants have made it to southern KY but I don't think they have made it this far north. Maybe a hybrid? This website from UofK shows a drone that seems very similar to the ones I've observed.
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/wasps/ants/ants.htm

Re: GAN Farmer in Kentucky

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 8:17 am
by Martialis
That isn't the most reliable site for ants.

Why not Tetramorium?

Those males are Camponotus castaneus.

Re: GAN Farmer in Kentucky

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:05 pm
by AntsOfKentucky
It's strange that I see the Camponotus castaneus drones every time I catch these queens. Wish I could catch a Camponotus castaneus queen :-( I'll get a better picture of one of the Queens and post it in a little. I'm kind of curious to what they are now. Every species pic I've looked at so far doesn't look like them. Just little differences here and there. How common is hybridization between different species of ants?

Re: GAN Farmer in Kentucky

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:11 pm
by AntsOfKentucky
Actually I think you hit the nail on the head martial. They might just be Tetramorium caesptium.