Identify Queen Social Parasite

Help with identifying the species your ants

Moderator: ooper01

Natev5
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 7:40 pm
Location: Chicago Suburbs

Identify Queen Social Parasite

Post: # 41748Post Natev5
Thu Jul 19, 2018 7:50 pm

Hi ant lovers! I recently caught this Formica social parasite queen as she was exploring around a Formica subsericea nest. She is definitely a queen because she has wing scar but I have trouble telling the various social parasites apart. She is about 8-9cm. She is in a test tube with Formica subsericea pupae in hopes she will found once a worker ecloses. Does anyone know what the specific species might be?

Here are links to photos of the queen:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LRP0BwblqyMdBQgpJuxeP4zgiK1g9I6M/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18AGKfyV9FXCH27dywRs99hwwahSKHaCs/view?usp=sharing
Keeping:
C. pennsylvanicus
Formica pallidefulva
Founding:
Tetramorium sp.
Formica social parasite
Formica subsericea
Lasius social parasite

Thorond0r
Posts: 124
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:50 am
Location: Rhenen, Netherlands

Re: Identify Queen Social Parasite

Post: # 41768Post Thorond0r
Fri Jul 20, 2018 1:28 am

I don't have acces to your drive folders, it's saying i need permission
First year of antkeeping, already enjoying it!

Currently founding:

Lasius niger
Lasius umbratus
Lasius flavus


Still hoping to find a Formica queen.

Natev5
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 7:40 pm
Location: Chicago Suburbs

Re: Identify Queen Social Parasite

Post: # 41787Post Natev5
Fri Jul 20, 2018 9:15 am

Oh sorry, I just changed my setting so you should be able to view now!
Keeping:
C. pennsylvanicus
Formica pallidefulva
Founding:
Tetramorium sp.
Formica social parasite
Formica subsericea
Lasius social parasite

Thorond0r
Posts: 124
Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:50 am
Location: Rhenen, Netherlands

Re: Identify Queen Social Parasite

Post: # 41791Post Thorond0r
Fri Jul 20, 2018 9:49 am

Nice close-ups! I absolutely agree that she is a Formica sp. queen... sadly however i'm off no help beyond that :(
Hopefully someone more experienced and more familiar with american species will come along soon to help you out!
First year of antkeeping, already enjoying it!

Currently founding:

Lasius niger
Lasius umbratus
Lasius flavus


Still hoping to find a Formica queen.

NKantsalberta
Posts: 182
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 6:48 pm
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta
Contact:

Re: Identify Queen Social Parasite

Post: # 41798Post NKantsalberta
Fri Jul 20, 2018 11:43 am

I had caught one a few weeks ago and batspiderfish unfortunately couldnt ID her due to my poor angles (she wouldnt sit still) I caught one again last night so I'd love to learn the specific species/genus as well!
GAN farmer for Edmonton and area, Alberta, Canada.

Facebook/Instagram : @NKantsalberta

Alberta Keeper's FB Group : Alberta Ant Keepers and Enthusiasts

TheRealAntMan
Posts: 620
Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:59 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Re: Identify Queen Social Parasite

Post: # 41859Post TheRealAntMan
Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:42 pm

Formica species from either the Subintegra group or the Aserva group.
An ants' strength can be rivaled by few animals compared to relative body size.

Natev5
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 7:40 pm
Location: Chicago Suburbs

Re: Identify Queen Social Parasite

Post: # 41972Post Natev5
Sun Jul 22, 2018 1:11 am

Are both of those species nest raiders throughout their life as a colony or can they do just fine on their own beyond the founding stage?
Keeping:
C. pennsylvanicus
Formica pallidefulva
Founding:
Tetramorium sp.
Formica social parasite
Formica subsericea
Lasius social parasite

TheRealAntMan
Posts: 620
Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:59 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Re: Identify Queen Social Parasite

Post: # 42002Post TheRealAntMan
Sun Jul 22, 2018 12:17 pm

Yes once the workers eclose, the Queen will start to lay eggs and the host workers will take care of them.
An ants' strength can be rivaled by few animals compared to relative body size.

NKantsalberta
Posts: 182
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 6:48 pm
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta
Contact:

Re: Identify Queen Social Parasite

Post: # 42004Post NKantsalberta
Sun Jul 22, 2018 12:19 pm

TheRealAntMan wrote:
Sun Jul 22, 2018 12:17 pm
Yes once the workers eclose, the Queen will start to lay eggs and the host workers will take care of them.
Would you know the host species? Ive tried two different formica species including her own and mine just killed workers, even though they tended to each other, and ignored pupae
GAN farmer for Edmonton and area, Alberta, Canada.

Facebook/Instagram : @NKantsalberta

Alberta Keeper's FB Group : Alberta Ant Keepers and Enthusiasts

TheRealAntMan
Posts: 620
Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:59 pm
Location: Chicago, Illinois

Re: Identify Queen Social Parasite

Post: # 42012Post TheRealAntMan
Sun Jul 22, 2018 1:06 pm

NKantsalberta wrote:
Sun Jul 22, 2018 12:19 pm
TheRealAntMan wrote:
Sun Jul 22, 2018 12:17 pm
Yes once the workers eclose, the Queen will start to lay eggs and the host workers will take care of them.
Would you know the host species? Ive tried two different formica species including her own and mine just killed workers, even though they tended to each other, and ignored pupae
What species did you try? How did you introduce them to the queen? You’re only supposed to give the parasitic queen pupae, not workers.
An ants' strength can be rivaled by few animals compared to relative body size.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests