The AntsCanada Ant Forum's

Hi There

I randomly came across this little lady, Please help identify. thanks .

We will need more photos.
Some sort of Myrmicine maybe Solenopsis, Monomorium , Pheidole.

Hi there

these are the best I could do as i do not have a test tube setup as yet.

thanks

Hi again

i have managed to identify her

she is a monomorium Minimum, i caught her running on our paved driveway among large Camponatus species(not sure what species but look like they had a mean bite) the weather was hot and dry.

thanks alot for your help on narowing down the species of my new queen.

Hi there

do you think its wise to add workers to a single monomorium minimum queen?

M. minimum is found only in North America.
She might be Monomorium or Solenopsis but without a picture of the antennae we can't say.

Hi Jonathan21700

I don't think she is Solonopsis or M. minimum i have researched on other forums as well. But what I will do is, get more pics so that you can confirm, as i am an amateur at this.

I have also tried searching for documentation on South African ants and our common ants black ant are Ochetelus Glaber

Black House Ant
(Ochetellus)

Appearance
• Shiny and black.
• 2.5 - 3mm long.
Lifecycle
• Larva hatches out of the egg as a white grub which is narrower towards the head. They are fed by the adults.
• The larva pupates and appears creamy-white, looking similar to an adult. Sometimes they have a protective silk cocoon around them.
• The adult emerges with the three defined body sections: head, thorax and abdomen.
• The length of time between the egg stage and ants emerging as adults can take 6 weeks or more; it depends on a variety of factors such as the species of ant, the temperature and the availability of food.
• Fertilised eggs become female, unfertilised become males.
Habits
• These ants are regarded as a nuisance and scavenge in kitchens, garbage and also dog excrement, therefore potentially spreading diseases such as salmonella.
• 'Common Ants' include the intensely black 'Black House Ants', and they are attracted to sweets.
• The light yellowish brown 'Coastal Brown Ant' prefers to feed on meat products and grease.
• The most effective control measure is to find the colony and treat it.

thanks

otello wrote:Hi there

do you think its wise to add workers to a single monomorium minimum queen?

I would advise against adding workers from another colony. There is a good chance they will kill the queen.

Hi ooper01,

Check out the facebook group "Ant Keepers of Southern Africa". We trying to grow the Southern African community so can share info and trade queens and so on.

Would be cool to have you on the group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2039165259644794/

There are solonopsis in south Africa. I have a colony. The common black ant here is lepisiota capensis. I have a colony of those as well. Go check my YouTube channel ants SA where a show case my ant colonies.