Queen ID, Found in Seattle WA

[Zebesian]

Found two of these big black queens over the last couple days. One with wings, one without. Definitely the biggest queens I've caught this season and boy can they scurry quick! Are they carpenter ant queens? Fully or semi claustral?

http://i.imgur.com/Vmly2Sq.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/HltLB8t.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/lQ0xIom.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/n7Ni2Mj.jpg

[TippyDisc911]

I would say camponotus pennsylvanicus

[Phoenix]

Either Formica / Camponotus.

[Perkdawg]

Certainly Formica, more specifically of the Formica fusca species group. For the species, they are likely Formica fusca, but could also be another very similar species of the same group such as Formica podzolica or Formica argentea for example. Formica ants of the Formica fusca species group are fully claustral, so you probably won't need to feed them until the first workers arrive. Be warned though, Formica ants do not keep brood over the winter so they will probably not lay eggs until you take them out of hibernation around late February or March of next year. Kinda stinks I know but Formica ants are very lively and active ants and are great to keep. PM me if you have any questions. Good luck!

[KSkuroooari]

Certainly Formica, more specifically of the Formica fusca species group.

Just because I have such a hard time distinguishing between the two, would you be able to tell me what makes it so 'certainly Formica' compared to a Camponotus?

Here is my C. modoc in comparison:



I don't see that tell-tale single curve versus distinct dual curve that was mentioned as an identifying trait on another website.

Thanks.

[Batspiderfish]

The curvature of the mesosoma only applies to workers. Another way you can tell the difference: the antennal sockets on Formica touch the edge of clypeus, whereas the sockets on Camponotus are higher up on the carina and not directly adjacent to the clypeus.

[Zebesian]

Would grabbing a measurement when I get home help put an end to the debate? I assumed it was camponotus because it was so much bigger than the rest of my ants (so far I also have tetramorium, lasius and possibly pheidole?) but if Formica are also bigger than all of those then I'm not so sure anymore at all.

[Batspiderfish]

You're supposed to have a measurement anyways, but I can tell from the pictures that she is a Formica sp. Formica are larger than the ants you mentioned, but smaller than most Camponotus (not all).

[KSkuroooari]

The curvature of the mesosoma only applies to workers. Another way you can tell the difference: the antennal sockets on Formica touch the edge of clypeus, whereas the sockets on Camponotus are higher up on the carina and not directly adjacent to the clypeus.

Haha. Thank you. I had to Google most of the terms but at least I learned something. And after looking at more photos of the two (and actually knowing what to look for), I can see the difference now. Hopefully, I can now at least distinguish between the two.

By the way, do you know if the white hairs of the C. laevigatus is a for-sure identifying trait? Our queen that was identified as C. laevigatus because she was shinier than the other two, is golden, not white. Does this mean she's not a C. laevigatus?

[Zebesian]

So I read above that Formica aren't supposed to lay eggs until after the winter? Well so far one of them has layed a couple. Is that egg laying rule a 100% thing or just what generally happens?