Fresh Caught Queen, March 20th, Kent, Washington, USA | Identification Assistance Requested

Help with identifying the species your ants

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PacificAntMan
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2019 10:10 am
Location: Kent, Washington, U.S.A.

Fresh Caught Queen, March 20th, Kent, Washington, USA | Identification Assistance Requested

Post: # 56723Post PacificAntMan
Fri Mar 22, 2019 4:06 pm

I'd like some help identifying this freshly caught queen.

Image
Image

My hands were a bit shaky, and she wouldn't sit still in her tube while the camera was on, but I can keep trying if you need better images.
  • I acquired her March 20th, around 11:00~ AM in my backyard.
  • Found her with a male mounted atop a dandelion about a half meter from the house.
  • I live in Kent, Washington, USA.
  • She is roughly 6.35 mm long.
  • I've caught her a few times seemingly chewing at or adjusting the cotton cap of her test tube with her mandibles.
  • She's currently wandering and feeling around the cap as I type this, though I did just transfer her to a standard AC test tube setup a few minutes ago, previously I had jury-rigged an old Backyard Safari tube for her containment, utilizing crumpled gauze pads instead of cotton balls as I didn't have any on hand at the time of her capture, with some duct tape around the bottom half of the tube to better keep the water from leaking out the bottom of the BYS cap.
  • Her exoskeleton seems to have a somewhat green hue to the light that reflects off her, but is otherwise black.
Any additional images or information you might need, I should be capable of providing.
Lorraine Anderson wrote:"Nature has been for me, for as long as I remember, a source of solace, inspiration, adventure, and delight; a home, a teacher, a companion."

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moodery
Posts: 42
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2019 3:32 pm
Location: Atlanta

Re: Fresh Caught Queen, March 20th, Kent, Washington, USA | Identification Assistance Requested

Post: # 56724Post moodery
Fri Mar 22, 2019 5:01 pm

it looks like a wasp from the antennae but definitely need better pictures
keeping
1x Solenopsis molesta i think 10-20 workers
1x Camponotus pennsylvanicus/formosensis 2 worker
1x Formica pallidefulva 7 workers

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PacificAntMan
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2019 10:10 am
Location: Kent, Washington, U.S.A.

Re: Fresh Caught Queen, March 20th, Kent, Washington, USA | Identification Assistance Requested

Post: # 56725Post PacificAntMan
Fri Mar 22, 2019 5:37 pm

Second attempt at photography of the critter.

Image
Image

Will these suffice, or do I need better lighting?
Lorraine Anderson wrote:"Nature has been for me, for as long as I remember, a source of solace, inspiration, adventure, and delight; a home, a teacher, a companion."

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moodery
Posts: 42
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2019 3:32 pm
Location: Atlanta

Re: Fresh Caught Queen, March 20th, Kent, Washington, USA | Identification Assistance Requested

Post: # 56727Post moodery
Fri Mar 22, 2019 8:38 pm

I'm kinda stumped the closest id i can give is that it could be Dorymyrmex insanus as it is 6mm and looks to be correct but to confirm look for a single spike(cant remember how to spell actual word) in between the thorax and abdomen.
better pictures would be helpful but if it is the quality of your camera then thats about the best i can give.
keeping
1x Solenopsis molesta i think 10-20 workers
1x Camponotus pennsylvanicus/formosensis 2 worker
1x Formica pallidefulva 7 workers

User avatar
PacificAntMan
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2019 10:10 am
Location: Kent, Washington, U.S.A.

Re: Fresh Caught Queen, March 20th, Kent, Washington, USA | Identification Assistance Requested

Post: # 56728Post PacificAntMan
Fri Mar 22, 2019 8:47 pm

Unfortunately, it seems I don't actually have a queen ant here. I just got a positive ID as a genus Ceratina carpenter bee from a friend of mine who's with the Burke Museum. I guess it's back to the trails to find a queen of the ant variety for me. :(

At least I know there's mass volumes of Tetramorium ants around my home. Hopefully I'll spot their nuptials. :)
Lorraine Anderson wrote:"Nature has been for me, for as long as I remember, a source of solace, inspiration, adventure, and delight; a home, a teacher, a companion."

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