ID update, i have new macro lens trying to get maybes into "THAT"

[Bierschneeman]

new macro lens, so my first trial, not the best. but i am trying to tutn my "maybe its this" into... "that definitely that".

out of 8, 7 have eggs most have and or more in mouth. and what i believe is Forelius pruinosis was very freaked out and running all over the place, so i dont have a good pic.

most of them werent cooperating.

ant one, Solenopsis sp.


ant two, Solenopsis sp. (egg free, but full gaster)


ant three Solenopsis sp.


ant four, Solenopsis sp.


ant five, Forelius pruinosis?


ant five Solenopsis sp.
poor thing is very injured, but still laying eggs


ant six Solenopsis sp.


ant seven Solenopsis sp.


ant eight Solenopsis, not giving a good image.

[Bierschneeman]

they still all look like solenopsis to me, but i am brand new to this.

ant one has a more rounded head, whiled the others all have square heads, sometimes heart shaped heads.

the lobes are also angled sometimes but not everytime.

this reads to me as at least one or two xyloni, and a lot of Invicta.

but that round head has me baffled

im still learning so any pointers you give thank you, any where i should look for discerning marks great. tell me im totally wrong, i will except it and thank you.

also thank you to everyone who has helped over the past few weeks.

how long til they hatch, because im going to abandon them until then, give them more privacy, because today a few seemed stressed while i was taking pictures.

[TheRealAntMan]

Most of those look like Pheidole.

[Bierschneeman]

wow, thanks, id much rather have pheidole.

can you pick out which numbers? next go around with pictures ill make sure to hyper focus on those.

what features are indicating this.?

wouldnt their mandibles be more flush, less narrow gap?

[Bierschneeman]

im seeing a lot of respurces site pheidole majors as being 4mm, but i cant find queen lengths.

every potential solenopsis/pheidole i have pictured is about 7mm.

here is an early image using a copied ruler for convenience.

[Bierschneeman]

went through camera, found another picture of ant six.

im going to take a stab and say this one is for sure Solenopsis xyloni. but i could be still completely wrong.

heres my reasoning and identifying marks.

two petiole nodes, 7mm, (plus the deciding factor) two segment antenneal club.= Solenopsis

only two cypeal teeth, and three mandible teeth each side. = xyloni

plus you can clearly see a patch of orange in this picture on the front of the gaster, (which should be a good udentifying character, but unreliable. from what i have read.)

i am still an amateur and welcome all crticisms of my scientific process. (Note: if you look at my signature i try to keep it up to date with potential IDs from more veteran members)




all my ants are found in Louisiana

[TheRealAntMan]

wow, thanks, id much rather have pheidole.

can you pick out which numbers? next go around with pictures ill make sure to hyper focus on those.

what features are indicating this.?

wouldnt their mandibles be more flush, less narrow gap?

We would need either full body shots or shots of antennae which would be hard to get. Queens are usually around 5-9 millimeters in length.

[Batspiderfish]

Solenopsis xyloni is more or less extinct in Eastern North America. The median clypeal tooth is not always visible on queens.

We need measurements on your supposed Forelius.

[Bierschneeman]

Solenopsis xyloni is more or less extinct in Eastern North America. The median clypeal tooth is not always visible on queens.

We need measurements on your supposed Forelius.

thank you.

I know there was a recent study in Louisiana . not sure how recent, with someone finding quite a few xylonis, hopes may have gotten the better of me. Ill get better pictures so we can look again/harder.

the Forelius is 5mm, you can find the original topic on "new genus for me..." someone there gave me my first ID on her., heres a better picture.

[Batspiderfish]

5mm would indeed make her Forelius.