Coloration is variable, but these are light enough.RainbowScience wrote:You are absolutely correct, my mistake. I don't know where I read 4, it is indeed 5 for queens. I am surprised by how dark queen 8 appears in the picture, aren't B. depilis typically yellow? Mine is very yellow.Batspiderfish wrote:I count five gastral tergites on every living queen. Brachymyrmex depilis is the only Brachymyrmex sp. north of Virginia.RainbowScience wrote:I would be careful of putting all of the Brachymyrmex together. Brachymyrmex depilis should have 4 segments to the abdomen and some of those appear to have more. Possibly multiple Brachymyrmex species.
ALTHOUGH, Brachymyrmex depilis (as we know it) might actually be more than one species.
Maryland, USA August and September Multiple Queens
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- Batspiderfish
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Re: Maryland, USA August and September Multiple Queens
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.
Re: Maryland, USA August and September Multiple Queens
I think that is from the lighting. They are all a yellow-y orange. They were so light in color that it was hard to see them on the white sidewalk pavement.RainbowScience wrote: I am surprised by how dark queen 8 appears in the picture, aren't B. depilis typically yellow? Mine is very yellow.
Re: Maryland, USA August and September Multiple Queens
I have some extra photos of the Lasius sp. queens 3 and 4. These are the first two queens I have to have nanitics. These are 2 of the 3 Lasius queens caught in August. The remaining August Lasius has no eggs/brood. I also caught a Tetramorium at the same time and it appears to only have a single egg. The other 2 Lasius queens from the original images were caught in September.
Queen 3
Queen 4
Queen 3
Queen 4
- Batspiderfish
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Re: Maryland, USA August and September Multiple Queens
The fact that I can't see any hairs on the scapes points to Lasius alienus, although this is the only real diagnostic we have to go on, and the photos are kiiiiinda unclear (although better than the originals). The pictures of the abdomen are, sadly, not of much use for distinguishing niger-group Lasius.
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.
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