Hello, I've been watching AntsCanada on Youtube for a while now and hoping I could one day begin ant keeping with my wife as she is also interested. As it happens the other day at work I spotted an ant creeping along next to crevices (not typical ant behavior) I got excited and was able to get it into a water-bottle believing it to be a queen ant looking for a home. I have a problem though! I can't seem to identify it! I've done some research and so has my wife and we think we know but we have differing ideas! So I need all of your help in this endeavor of identification!
Some background to try and help out with identifying it: We live in Eastern Washington close to Spokane and the month is currently May, I can make out some of the markings from where wings might have been attached to the side of the ant giving me strong belief that this is one of three things, a mated female, an unmated female (who for what ever reason tore her wings off) or an abnormally large worker ant (considering how she was moving though I highly doubt it).
I have no idea why the image is upside-down and can't seem to fix it...
My First Ant! What is it though?!
Moderator: ooper01
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- Location: Washington
- Batspiderfish
- Posts: 3315
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: My First Ant! What is it though?!
Looks to be a Camponotus semitestaceus queen, possibly a bright Camponotus vicinus.
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.
- AntNoobster
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- Location: Perth, AUS
Re: My First Ant! What is it though?!
im not sure what species but definitely a queen. I'm pretty sure its Camponotus semitestaceus, like above.
"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest." Proverbs 6:6-8
Founding:
8x Iridomyrmex sp.
1x Pheidole sp.
Founding:
8x Iridomyrmex sp.
1x Pheidole sp.
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- Posts: 2
- Joined: Sun May 20, 2018 9:56 pm
- Location: Washington
Re: My First Ant! What is it though?!
Thank you both for replying so expediently!
This lovely ant is confirmed a queen as when I got home from work I checked on her and she was standing over 3(that I could see) ivory dots! My wife and I are in agreement as well that she is probably a Camponotus semitestaceus as that is what was lining up with some of the research we were doing!
Once again thank you both so much for replying! We look forward to watching this new colony founded by luck grow and will post as much as we can about it, if you wish to follow it's growth!
This lovely ant is confirmed a queen as when I got home from work I checked on her and she was standing over 3(that I could see) ivory dots! My wife and I are in agreement as well that she is probably a Camponotus semitestaceus as that is what was lining up with some of the research we were doing!
Once again thank you both so much for replying! We look forward to watching this new colony founded by luck grow and will post as much as we can about it, if you wish to follow it's growth!
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