Charlotte, NC

[KHaAnts]

Hello fellow antkeepers! There was a huge rainstorm yesterday and I decided to look for some ants and MAN! I found so many alates! Male.. ones, that were dead and being harvested as food from already established ant colonies lol but, with male alates, comes female alates. Surprisingly, I found these 3 queens and wanted to identify them (I also caught 2 more but I know they are Solenopsis Invicta). Any help would be amazing and if better pictures need to be taken, please let me know!

This first one here is a bit questionable. It didn't shed it's wings and got weak quickly after being seen/caught, even though I took care of it as much as I could. I believe it is a male alate but would still like to know species so I know what to look for in the future It's a big one, about 13mm long
http://imgur.com/a/XQFDO

This second one here looked like a Solenopsis Invicta but was more brown than reddish/black, so I thought she might be a different species. I caught her with wings on and she INSTANTLY started pulling her wings off. It was an amazing experience and I wish I would have recorded it so I could show you guys. She's about 6mm, smaller than my S. Invictus queens
http://imgur.com/a/gGj5z

The last one was probably the weirdest catch ever! I caught her with a male on her gaster still fertilizing her! They were so small that I didn't notice him until I captured her, so I let them go until he finished and re-caught her. She's ~3-4mm, and I found her while pumping my car with gas haha

http://imgur.com/a/2NyLo

And as mentioned above, any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much guys

[Batspiderfish]

The first queen is a Lasius social parasite queen, probably Lasius murphyi.

Queen two is Pheidole sp.

Queen three is Nylanderia sp.

[KHaAnts]

The first queen is a Lasius social parasite queen, probably Lasius murphyi.

Queen two is Pheidole sp.

Queen three is Nylanderia sp.

Wow! Thank you so much batspiderfish!

[Batspiderfish]

http://www.formiculture.com/topic/3252-much-ado-about-the-founding-of-lasius-temporary-social-parasites/

[KHaAnts]

http://www.formiculture.com/topic/3252-much-ado-about-the-founding-of-lasius-temporary-social-parasites/

I actually did a little research on it when I saw your message. I dont yet have a colony of my own so I can't try to start a parasitic one, but it would have been an amazing experience. I released the ant back into my yard shortly after finding this out. Thank you for all of your help I really appreciate the work you put into helping all of us on the forum. You're the best