3 Queens Columbia, SC
Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 6:07 pm
Lots of flights today after the rain came through. There were so many S. invicta queens running about today that I kinda ignored them entirely.
These three queens though don't appear to be S. invicta. They do appear to possibly be the same species... Queens 1 & 2 were found very nearby each other, but queen 3 was found on the other side of town. My best guess for any of these is a Crematogaster species such as ashmeadi or lineolata based on color and petiole shape. Could be totally off though.
I have a microscope now so much better pictures this time! If you need other angles just let me know.
Queen 1:
Collected around 1pm from a concrete path heading on the border between some new developments in southern Cayce and forestland. 8mm.
Queen 2:
Collected around 1 pm from the same concrete path, in the woods now but also in a former powerline right-of-way (thus an artificial break in the trees.) 8mm.
Queen 3:
Collected around 6 pm from a pool at an apartment complex in Forest Acres, one of Columbia's inner suburbs. 8mm.
These three queens though don't appear to be S. invicta. They do appear to possibly be the same species... Queens 1 & 2 were found very nearby each other, but queen 3 was found on the other side of town. My best guess for any of these is a Crematogaster species such as ashmeadi or lineolata based on color and petiole shape. Could be totally off though.
I have a microscope now so much better pictures this time! If you need other angles just let me know.
Queen 1:
Collected around 1pm from a concrete path heading on the border between some new developments in southern Cayce and forestland. 8mm.
Queen 2:
Collected around 1 pm from the same concrete path, in the woods now but also in a former powerline right-of-way (thus an artificial break in the trees.) 8mm.
Queen 3:
Collected around 6 pm from a pool at an apartment complex in Forest Acres, one of Columbia's inner suburbs. 8mm.