New queen, first of the season for me :D

Help with identifying the species your ants

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Theantguy13

New queen, first of the season for me :D

Post: # 21357Post Theantguy13
Thu May 18, 2017 11:19 pm

So some of you may remember me from last year, as that is when I joined. Well A quick update, none of my colonies made it into my omni-nest, all dieing or refusing to move in *cough* solenopsis queen *cough*. Anyway I just caught my first queen of the season and in excited as ever because I've never seen this kind of queen before! Anyway here is a link to an imgur album, because my phone is being weird and won't let me embed it into the post for some reason.
https://m.imgur.com/gallery/aAZxM

Theantguy13

Re: New queen, first of the season for me :D

Post: # 21360Post Theantguy13
Thu May 18, 2017 11:37 pm

Crap I got so excited I forgot the details XD

Length: about 5-6 mm maybe longer
Location: California riverside area
Behavior: I've noticed she isn't bothered by light as much as other ants I've had. She also has been chewing on the cotton a bit but not enough to break out like other species, I know pogonomyrmex can... Learned that the hard way, luckily I caught her and managed to contain her.

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Phoenix
Posts: 642
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2017 11:17 pm
Location: Malaysia

Re: ID Request

Post: # 21361Post Phoenix
Fri May 19, 2017 2:31 am

Don't Know What Species She Is, But My Guess Is That She's Semi-Claustral.
'Have Fun.' - Gabe Newell

Martialis
Posts: 1576
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 5:30 pm
Location: Indiana

Re: New queen, first of the season for me :D

Post: # 21365Post Martialis
Fri May 19, 2017 7:11 am

This seems like Veromessor sp., another harvester ant. I think she's fully claustral, though it wouldn't hurt to feed her and observe if she gives it to her larvae. Only feed protein.
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Batspiderfish
Posts: 3315
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
Location: Maine

Re: New queen, first of the season for me :D

Post: # 21367Post Batspiderfish
Fri May 19, 2017 7:47 am

Looks like a Pogonomyrmex male to me. Any images of the side? Better lighting would also be helpful.
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.

Theantguy13

Re: New queen, first of the season for me :D

Post: # 21374Post Theantguy13
Fri May 19, 2017 12:53 pm

Ok so I'm at school right now but I can get more pics at home in about 4.5 hours or so.

I can tell that it is definitely not a male, as its head is not very tiny at all.

I don't know a lot on species ID but this one could probably be a harvester ant, as some people said.

also those measurements may not be very accurate as she was moving a lot when I tried to check, ill try for better measures when I get home.

Theantguy13

Re: New queen, first of the season for me :D

Post: # 21384Post Theantguy13
Fri May 19, 2017 5:32 pm

Ok so for one I massively failed on the measurement, she's actually about 1cm long.

For 2 I took some more pictures from a side view, here they are
http://imgur.com/a/1ZK4B

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Batspiderfish
Posts: 3315
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
Location: Maine

Re: New queen, first of the season for me :D

Post: # 21390Post Batspiderfish
Fri May 19, 2017 7:47 pm

Yeah, definitely a male Pogonomyrmex. They look kinda unique.

You can see the tiny mandibles, the short antennal scapes, and the external genitalia at the end of the gaster.
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.

Theantguy13

Re: New queen, first of the season for me :D

Post: # 21398Post Theantguy13
Sat May 20, 2017 12:17 am

Darn I'm kinda bummed now...

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Barfdog
Posts: 145
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2016 6:32 pm
Location: Phoenix Arizona

Re: New queen, first of the season for me :D

Post: # 21399Post Barfdog
Sat May 20, 2017 1:55 am

Theantguy13 wrote:
Sat May 20, 2017 12:17 am
Darn I'm kinda bummed now...
I know it totally sucks, but luckily Socal is POPPIN when it comes to Gan Farmers so if all else fails you can get one through the Gan project.

I'm also learning the hard way things don't always work out the way they should when antkeeping.. like when your queen leaves her one worker behind stuck in a mixture of mold and the small drop of honey that got EVERYWHERE. Luckily I saved it via cotton swab and her second worker is eclosing as I type this.
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One M1ABRAMS TANK AKA Camponotus Laevigatus Queen

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