Ant Identification, Southern Turkey near Syria

Help with identifying the species your ants

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Opee2012
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2018 10:32 pm

Ant Identification, Southern Turkey near Syria

Post: # 42079Post Opee2012
Sun Jul 22, 2018 10:50 pm

Image

I'm deployed out here in Turkey and I came across some interesting looking ants. They seem to come in different sizes and the bigger ones in the picture are about 14mm. There gasters are sticking upright when they walk. If the picture isn't good enough, I'll try my best to get better ones. They run away when you get close to them so it was hard to take this picture.

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

Re: Ant Identification, Southern Turkey near Syria

Post: # 42098Post Thorond0r
Mon Jul 23, 2018 1:44 am

Don't have a clue what they are, but they look very interesting! :D
First year of antkeeping, already enjoying it!

Currently founding:

Lasius niger
Lasius umbratus
Lasius flavus


Still hoping to find a Formica queen.

Opee2012
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2018 10:32 pm

Re: Ant Identification, Southern Turkey near Syria

Post: # 42102Post Opee2012
Mon Jul 23, 2018 2:34 am

They look like to be a type of Camponotus variety. Looks similar to the Camponotus floridanus too.

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

Re: Ant Identification, Southern Turkey near Syria

Post: # 42103Post Thorond0r
Mon Jul 23, 2018 3:10 am

Did some research and i think they are a Cataglyphis sp. might be Cataglyphis nodus.
From what i read they walk with their gaster up the air because it is slightly cooler there than directly above the ground, which is also why to walk so high on their legs, very cool indeed ;)
First year of antkeeping, already enjoying it!

Currently founding:

Lasius niger
Lasius umbratus
Lasius flavus


Still hoping to find a Formica queen.

Opee2012
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2018 10:32 pm

Re: Ant Identification, Southern Turkey near Syria

Post: # 42109Post Opee2012
Mon Jul 23, 2018 3:50 am

Yeah they are definitely Cataglyphis nodus. Makes sense why they have their gasters in the air. The picture was taken early in the morning when I usually see them foraging as it is cooler then. In the middle of the day it gets upwards of 40°C here.

Thanks for the research!

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

Re: Ant Identification, Southern Turkey near Syria

Post: # 42113Post Thorond0r
Mon Jul 23, 2018 4:50 am

No problem, always happy to help and learn more myself ;)
First year of antkeeping, already enjoying it!

Currently founding:

Lasius niger
Lasius umbratus
Lasius flavus


Still hoping to find a Formica queen.

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