Queen ID

[CreeperUniverse]

Hello, sorry if this is in the wrong section, I couldn't find the ID.

Yesterday, I caught 4 queens. I don't wanna pic them right now, but I will in a few days once they've settled in. 1 went in a natural set up and the other 3 in test tubes. For a long time I couldn't figure out what they are. But now, I think they're Crematogaster. They were caught on 4/28/17 when it was 80* Fahrenheit. The past few days were raining. I'll keep you posted!

[Martialis]

No way they are Crematogaster. Those are fall and late summer flying ants.

[CreeperUniverse]

Ok I just caught another one. She is sickly (gets stuck to everything), but I can photograph her. Also, I got some T. Caespitum brood. Can I feed it to one of the queens? I'm worried, because one of 'em has a mite. Also, they seem to have a little stinger but don't look like T. Caespitum. If they are confirmed TO be T. Caespitum, would the brood be good to give 'em? The brood are 100% T. Caespitum. (Measurements are in Inches)

[CreeperUniverse]

She's missing her front legs, that one. Poor thing keeps on getting stuck and I have to help her. I guess she's doomed.

[Batspiderfish]

Lasius umbratus

http://www.formiculture.com/topic/3252-much-ado-about-the-founding-of-lasius-temporary-social-parasites/

[CreeperUniverse]

Lasius umbratus

http://www.formiculture.com/topic/3252-much-ado-about-the-founding-of-lasius-temporary-social-parasites/

I doubt it. I believe I've had a Lasius Umbratus queen before. These girl's heads are too small and and their overall size. Their thorax is also too skinny.

[Batspiderfish]

If you are doubting it, maybe provide some better-lit pictures. There aren't too many other possibilities.

[CreeperUniverse]

Lasius umbratus

http://www.formiculture.com/topic/3252-much-ado-about-the-founding-of-lasius-temporary-social-parasites/

I doubt it. I believe I've had a Lasius Umbratus queen before. These girl's heads are too small and and their overall size. Their thorax is also too skinny.

I still have her, but she's moldy and rotten. I've seen social parasites before. These queens look much different. I'll get another pic. Yeah, Umbratus don't have that little spike on the Petiole I believe. My old queen of them also had a WAY bigger head compared to her gaster. Time will tell...
Gonna be pretty sad if they die. Because there WAS a nuptial flight. Gardeners said thousands of flying ants were all over the place. 2 years of patience is hard.

[CreeperUniverse]

But, if she is a parasite. Can she take Lasius Claviger workers?

[Batspiderfish]

Yeah, this is Lasius umbratus. You should be able to use most kinds of Lasius, but most of the past successes have come from the niger-group.

That spike is called the petiolar scale, and all ants from Formicinae have one.