worker ID please

Help with identifying the species your ants

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invjang
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue May 30, 2017 8:20 pm
Location: Chicago

worker ID please

Post: # 35913Post invjang
Sun May 13, 2018 8:55 pm

I was curios what kinds of ants around my area (west suburb of Chicago, USA).
So I've caught some and uploaded here to get help identify them.

Ant 1.
size: ~ 1cm
color: black
caught: side walk near a pine tree

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Image


Ant 2.
size: ~ 1cm
color: brown
caught: side walk near a pine tree. I found the nest entrance at the border of concrete and grass

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Image
Image


Ant 3.
size: ~0.5cm
color: black
caught: side walk near the drive way.

Image
Image
Image


Thanks,
A keeper of
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Formica sp.

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BleedingRaindrops
Posts: 156
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2016 11:33 am
Location: Pennsylvania

Re: worker ID please

Post: # 35915Post BleedingRaindrops
Sun May 13, 2018 10:03 pm

All of these are difficult to identify due to poor lighting, but few genera in North America get as big as 1cm other than Camponotus.

I would say Camponotus pennsylvanicus for ant 1, and either Camponotus
Americanus
or Camponotus castaneus for ant 2.

Ant 3 looks like Formica, but I would want better pictures to say with confidence.
Ants kept
Nylanderia sp.
Camponotus sp.
Paratrechina Longicornis
Pheidole sp.

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

Re: worker ID please

Post: # 35977Post Batspiderfish
Tue May 15, 2018 2:40 pm

The measurements seem a little off.

The first worker is Formica, although I would need a clear view of the details outlined in your other Formica colony ID to narrow down to the species.

Worker two is Formica pallidefulva.

Worker three is Camponotus, either C. novaeboracensis or C. nearcticus (possibly even C. subbarbatus). A view of the clypeus at the front of the head is necessary to distinguish the un-notched Camponotus subgenus from he notched Myrmentoma subgenus.
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.

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BleedingRaindrops
Posts: 156
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2016 11:33 am
Location: Pennsylvania

Re: worker ID please

Post: # 35998Post BleedingRaindrops
Tue May 15, 2018 6:13 pm

Batspiderfish wrote:
Tue May 15, 2018 2:40 pm
The measurements seem a little off.

The first worker is Formica,

Worker two is Formica pallidefulva.

Worker three is Camponotus,
And after I just learned to tell Formica from Camponotus :lol: That's embarrassing. :oops:
Ants kept
Nylanderia sp.
Camponotus sp.
Paratrechina Longicornis
Pheidole sp.

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invjang
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue May 30, 2017 8:20 pm
Location: Chicago

Re: worker ID please

Post: # 36041Post invjang
Thu May 17, 2018 12:16 pm

Thank you, BleedingRaindrops and Batspiderfish.
Appreciate your time and effort.
I will try to take better pictures next time to capture the key features of identification.
BTW, do you have any recommendations? I would like to learn how to identify ant species at least my area.
A keeper of
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Formica sp.

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