Hey all. I'm trying to identify this species. I've been a bit lost on this one. I've recently caught five of this type of queen in the Severn, FT Meade area of Maryland. I've had a bit of trouble narrowing down the species.
They are very small. Only about 4-6mm or so in length and no wider than the tip of a pen. Initially, when I caught them, they had much thinner gastors and look as though they have yellow stripes but as they started producing eggs their gastors swelled significantly. Now they look almost like honeypot ants or something, but again, too small for that. They have an orange red color to their head and thorax with their gastors being a dark brownish, charcoal color, with yellow stripes going through them. After their gastors swelled, now they look as though they have yellow yellow gastors with brown patches across them. Their thorax attaches to their gastor at the bottom. They are very rambunctious queens, always moving around and becoming very alert at the first sign of disturbance, whether that be movement or light exposure. It took nearly a week for this queen to lay eggs. Their antenna are also quite long.
My research has led me to them possibly being a Nylandaria species. Any thoughts?
Pics:
Best photo I have. You can really see how their gastors expanded to the point where they look engorged.
Another photo from above (kinda blurry):
To show length (in mm):
Genus/Species identification. Nylandaria? with photos.
Moderator: ooper01
Genus/Species identification. Nylandaria? with photos.
Charlottesville, VA GAN Farmer
Seller of 3D Printed Nests
Owns:
Camponotus nearcticus
Camponotus castaneous
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Phiedole bicarinata
Tetramorium immigrans
Forelius pruinosis
Seller of 3D Printed Nests
Owns:
Camponotus nearcticus
Camponotus castaneous
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Phiedole bicarinata
Tetramorium immigrans
Forelius pruinosis
Re: Genus/Species identification. Nylandaria? with photos.
I think that is a ghost ant, tapinoma melanoceohalum
Keeping:
x1 Tapinoma erraticum
x2 Lasius niger
Founding:
x7 Camponotus
x1 Unknown
Wishlist:
Tetramorium sp
x1 Tapinoma erraticum
x2 Lasius niger
Founding:
x7 Camponotus
x1 Unknown
Wishlist:
Tetramorium sp
Re: Genus/Species identification. Nylandaria? with photos.
Definitely not a ghost ant. The queens gastors don't swell like this. But thank you for your post because while I was researching ghost ants I came across a post with similar ants and the people there said Brachymyrmex depilis which looks exactly like my ants. Maybe that's what they are.
Charlottesville, VA GAN Farmer
Seller of 3D Printed Nests
Owns:
Camponotus nearcticus
Camponotus castaneous
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Phiedole bicarinata
Tetramorium immigrans
Forelius pruinosis
Seller of 3D Printed Nests
Owns:
Camponotus nearcticus
Camponotus castaneous
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Phiedole bicarinata
Tetramorium immigrans
Forelius pruinosis
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Re: Genus/Species identification. Nylandaria? with photos.
Forelius pruinosus
If you enjoy my expertise and identifications, please do not put wild populations at risk of disease by releasing pet colonies. We are responsible to give our pets the best care we can manage for the rest of their lives.
Re: Genus/Species identification. Nylandaria? with photos.
Dude! Just looked it up. That matches perfectly. The area I caught all five of these queens matches exactly to the environment of this ant. And the size and photos are exactly on point. Thank you. I confidently believe we just figured out the species.
Charlottesville, VA GAN Farmer
Seller of 3D Printed Nests
Owns:
Camponotus nearcticus
Camponotus castaneous
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Phiedole bicarinata
Tetramorium immigrans
Forelius pruinosis
Seller of 3D Printed Nests
Owns:
Camponotus nearcticus
Camponotus castaneous
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Phiedole bicarinata
Tetramorium immigrans
Forelius pruinosis
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