worker ID please

[invjang]

I was curios what kinds of ants around my area (west suburb of Chicago, USA).
So I've caught some and uploaded here to get help identify them.

Ant 1.
size: ~ 1cm
color: black
caught: side walk near a pine tree





Ant 2.
size: ~ 1cm
color: brown
caught: side walk near a pine tree. I found the nest entrance at the border of concrete and grass






Ant 3.
size: ~0.5cm
color: black
caught: side walk near the drive way.






Thanks,

[BleedingRaindrops]

All of these are difficult to identify due to poor lighting, but few genera in North America get as big as 1cm other than Camponotus.

I would say Camponotus pennsylvanicus for ant 1, and either Camponotus
Americanus or Camponotus castaneus for ant 2.

Ant 3 looks like Formica, but I would want better pictures to say with confidence.

[Batspiderfish]

The measurements seem a little off.

The first worker is Formica, although I would need a clear view of the details outlined in your other Formica colony ID to narrow down to the species.

Worker two is Formica pallidefulva.

Worker three is Camponotus, either C. novaeboracensis or C. nearcticus (possibly even C. subbarbatus). A view of the clypeus at the front of the head is necessary to distinguish the un-notched Camponotus subgenus from he notched Myrmentoma subgenus.

[BleedingRaindrops]

The measurements seem a little off.

The first worker is Formica,

Worker two is Formica pallidefulva.

Worker three is Camponotus,

And after I just learned to tell Formica from Camponotus That's embarrassing.

[invjang]

Thank you, BleedingRaindrops and Batspiderfish.
Appreciate your time and effort.
I will try to take better pictures next time to capture the key features of identification.
BTW, do you have any recommendations? I would like to learn how to identify ant species at least my area.