2 Queens to ID - Western Michigan USA - July 2nd

[dcasez]

Found these 2 queens in Western Michigan (south of Ludington) on July 2nd in the afternoon.

1st Queen Pictures
https://imgur.com/a/oGi8lrB
https://imgur.com/a/XzsrtNt

2nd Queen Pictures
https://imgur.com/a/zVxSHZx
https://imgur.com/a/NCqhQjW

Any ideas?

[abaek2020]

Hey! Im not an expert, but my guess is that the 2nd one is a Formica species. Maybe formica fucsa.

[Batspiderfish]

Both Formica sp.

Better lighting will be necessary for having a shot at the species.

[dcasez]

I'll try to get better pictures tomorrow. I think I know of a good way to get some better pictures. Haven't been getting good lighting underneath the tube.

[Batspiderfish]

It's not the angle of the light, just that the light is not bright enough.

[dcasez]

1st queen again with better lighting

https://imgur.com/a/JdWS9uS


2nd queen again with better lighting

https://imgur.com/a/iplCxcC

[dcasez]

Another 1st queen album

https://imgur.com/a/vAWu2Z8

[Batspiderfish]

Thanks! The first queen is Formica neorufibarbis, I believe, based on the shininess. Looks like something happened to her gaster, but if she is laying eggs, maybe she will make it!

I think the second queen is from the neogagates group, but I'm not entirely sure. We would have to see the hairs on the antennal scapes to differentiate F. neogagates from F. lasiodes.

Both queens are claustral, as you may have guessed.

[dcasez]

Thank you! Tried looking up all 3 species for a good guide for caretaking and was unable to find anything. Any unique things I should know about?

I have 6 carpenter ant queens getting close to workers and there are plenty of guides for those.

[Batspiderfish]

A lot of care guides are, frankly, anecdotal and overly-specific. If you know the genus and you know whether it is claustral, semi-claustral, or parasitic, then any information from that group should apply.