Help With Queen Identification

[silverraccoon]

Found two different of queens. I would appreciate some help with IDing.

Ant 1: I'm thinking it might be Temnothorax sp?

Size: 3/16in. ~5mm
When: 8/8/2022 Afternoon
Where: Northern Illinois - semi-rural
Appearance: Ant appears a golden color with a darker head and banded yellow gaster.
Behavior: Found swarming after rain around 5pm
Picture(s):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eBXXTYFGQjPw77koaV6keSUgHPfOOmCb/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FdiLzKrHL9tgyQtwmM__j2IG7H9MoqLw/view?usp=sharing

Ant 2: I was assuming this is Lasius niger.

Size: 6/16in. ~9mm
When: Week or 2 ago on different days - Afternoon
Where: Northern Illinois - semi-rural
Appearance: Ant appears all black.
Behavior: Found afternoon trying to find a hiding spot.
Picture(s):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15sqO-zQhAuAaBvPcc-_T2rQPmXov1_UL/view?usp=sharing

Thanks!

[antperson24]

Found two different of queens. I would appreciate some help with IDing.

Ant 1: I'm thinking it might be Temnothorax sp?

Size: 3/16in. ~5mm
When: 8/8/2022 Afternoon
Where: Northern Illinois - semi-rural
Appearance: Ant appears a golden color with a darker head and banded yellow gaster.
Behavior: Found swarming after rain around 5pm
Picture(s):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eBXXTYFGQjPw77koaV6keSUgHPfOOmCb/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FdiLzKrHL9tgyQtwmM__j2IG7H9MoqLw/view?usp=sharing

Ant 2: I was assuming this is Lasius niger.

Size: 6/16in. ~9mm
When: Week or 2 ago on different days - Afternoon
Where: Northern Illinois - semi-rural
Appearance: Ant appears all black.
Behavior: Found afternoon trying to find a hiding spot.
Picture(s):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15sqO-zQhAuAaBvPcc-_T2rQPmXov1_UL/view?usp=sharing

Thanks!

Hi there! So I think that the seconded one is either Lasius or Formica. I think this because Lasius niger is not found in your area, it would be Lasius neoniger, but Lasius neoniger is lighter colored so maybe Formica. Ok, so do you know what's funny? I am waiting on Id for the first queen too! I think I might have a different species, but since you think it is Temnothorax maybe I can look into that and see if I can find a species that matches mine, and maybe even yours!

[antperson24]

Found two different of queens. I would appreciate some help with IDing.

Ant 1: I'm thinking it might be Temnothorax sp?

Size: 3/16in. ~5mm
When: 8/8/2022 Afternoon
Where: Northern Illinois - semi-rural
Appearance: Ant appears a golden color with a darker head and banded yellow gaster.
Behavior: Found swarming after rain around 5pm
Picture(s):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eBXXTYFGQjPw77koaV6keSUgHPfOOmCb/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FdiLzKrHL9tgyQtwmM__j2IG7H9MoqLw/view?usp=sharing

Ant 2: I was assuming this is Lasius niger.

Size: 6/16in. ~9mm
When: Week or 2 ago on different days - Afternoon
Where: Northern Illinois - semi-rural
Appearance: Ant appears all black.
Behavior: Found afternoon trying to find a hiding spot.
Picture(s):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15sqO-zQhAuAaBvPcc-_T2rQPmXov1_UL/view?usp=sharing

Thanks!

I did some research and I don’t think she is Temnothorax. Temnothorax are in the Myrmicinae subfamily and our queens don’t look to be in the Myrmicinae subfamily. The closest I could find to them in Temnothorax is Temnothorax curvispinosus, and they still don’t seem to match very well. Hopefully someone else will be able to help you out with the first on!

[silverraccoon]

I did some research and I don’t think she is Temnothorax. Temnothorax are in the Myrmicinae subfamily and our queens don’t look to be in the Myrmicinae subfamily. The closest I could find to them in Temnothorax is Temnothorax curvispinosus, and they still don’t seem to match very well. Hopefully someone else will be able to help you out with the first on!

Temnothorax curvispinosus is what I had looked at along after thinking maybe Solenopsis molesta. They are alike in size and color. As something around here that are similar, they are close but not quite.

I thought I was sure about ant 2, but now I see I had the locations for neoniger/niger backward. They aren't that brown color, so it must be something else then. One of those queens has her brood already in cocoons, so I thought it matched correctly with what to expect for Lasius niger.

Now I'm glad I asked on here because I am an amateur at IDing queens.

[antperson24]

I did some research and I don’t think she is Temnothorax. Temnothorax are in the Myrmicinae subfamily and our queens don’t look to be in the Myrmicinae subfamily. The closest I could find to them in Temnothorax is Temnothorax curvispinosus, and they still don’t seem to match very well. Hopefully someone else will be able to help you out with the first on!

Temnothorax curvispinosus is what I had looked at along after thinking maybe Solenopsis molesta. They are alike in size and color. As something around here that are similar, they are close but not quite.

I thought I was sure about ant 2, but now I see I had the locations for neoniger/niger backward. They aren't that brown color, so it must be something else then. One of those queens has her brood already in cocoons, so I thought it matched correctly with what to expect for Lasius niger.

Now I'm glad I asked on here because I am an amateur at IDing queens.

Wow! Solenopsis molesta matches almost perfect, I had no idea Solenopsis lived this far north!

[silverraccoon]

I think I had looked at 'thief ant' initially and found them to be more monocolored. Now that I look again, S. molesta is probably what ant 1 is. I'll just assume that unless someone with more knowledge can say otherwise.

[SolenopsisKeeper]

Found two different of queens. I would appreciate some help with IDing.

Ant 1: I'm thinking it might be Temnothorax sp?

Size: 3/16in. ~5mm
When: 8/8/2022 Afternoon
Where: Northern Illinois - semi-rural
Appearance: Ant appears a golden color with a darker head and banded yellow gaster.
Behavior: Found swarming after rain around 5pm
Picture(s):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eBXXTYFGQjPw77koaV6keSUgHPfOOmCb/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FdiLzKrHL9tgyQtwmM__j2IG7H9MoqLw/view?usp=sharing

Ant 2: I was assuming this is Lasius niger.

Size: 6/16in. ~9mm
When: Week or 2 ago on different days - Afternoon
Where: Northern Illinois - semi-rural
Appearance: Ant appears all black.
Behavior: Found afternoon trying to find a hiding spot.
Picture(s):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15sqO-zQhAuAaBvPcc-_T2rQPmXov1_UL/view?usp=sharing

Thanks!

1. Could be Solenopsis texana

2. Pretty sure it’s Lasius like antperson24 said

[antperson24]

I think I had looked at 'thief ant' initially and found them to be more monocolored. Now that I look again, S. molesta is probably what ant 1 is. I'll just assume that unless someone with more knowledge can say otherwise.

Sounds good!