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Formica subsericea ID confirmation please

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 12:41 pm
by antsMAN
Just seen one flying outside. One I have in a THA Talus and the others are in test tubes.

Caught in Canada, Nova Scotia, about 10mm, black with brownish legs, workers all black.

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[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2sOumHN0xQ[/youtube]

Re: Formica subsericea ID confirmation please

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 2:24 pm
by Batspiderfish
Sorry for not answering this sooner on the other board. I've been looking through "A Field Guide to the Ants of New England", and they have a neat method of sorting through the Formica subsericea complex. Since it looks like The first two tergites of the queen's gaster are covered in silvery pubescence, she is not Formica fusca. Silvery pubescence on only the first two tergites suggests Formica glacialis, but if there is also hair on the third, and if the antennal scapes are longer than the length of the head, then she is most likely Formica subsericea.

Re: Formica subsericea ID confirmation please

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 4:41 pm
by antsMAN
Thanks Bat, Formica subserciea it is. I posted on the other forum crediting you.