Three unidentified ant queens
Moderator: ooper01
Three unidentified ant queens
I'm hoping the folks here can help me to identify these three ants. I've been trying to do so, but having trouble.
Ant #1
Found walking down a path in a local park September 7, Southern BC. Approx 5.5 MM Suspect she's dead
http://www.mediafire.com/view/z21100k6w ... 224339.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/view/hs74h7y7e ... 224501.jpg
Ant # 2
Found in the same park, different path, September 15 approx 6 MM Mainly pine/spruce forest
http://www.mediafire.com/view/mhkrg1p4h ... 224558.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/view/1roshozt8 ... 224615.jpg
Ant #3
Found a small colony under a rock, same park, In loamy soil September 27. The Queen is about 4.5 MM, the workers approx 3 MM There is a small cluster of eggs that one of the workers packs around with her.
The colony was polymorphic. The one large headed ant worker I collected got her head stuck under the lid of the chamber. Ouch!
http://www.mediafire.com/view/d0au4xbx4 ... 224939.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/view/2on53x1th ... 225031.jpg
Ant #1
Found walking down a path in a local park September 7, Southern BC. Approx 5.5 MM Suspect she's dead
http://www.mediafire.com/view/z21100k6w ... 224339.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/view/hs74h7y7e ... 224501.jpg
Ant # 2
Found in the same park, different path, September 15 approx 6 MM Mainly pine/spruce forest
http://www.mediafire.com/view/mhkrg1p4h ... 224558.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/view/1roshozt8 ... 224615.jpg
Ant #3
Found a small colony under a rock, same park, In loamy soil September 27. The Queen is about 4.5 MM, the workers approx 3 MM There is a small cluster of eggs that one of the workers packs around with her.
The colony was polymorphic. The one large headed ant worker I collected got her head stuck under the lid of the chamber. Ouch!
http://www.mediafire.com/view/d0au4xbx4 ... 224939.jpg
http://www.mediafire.com/view/2on53x1th ... 225031.jpg
- Batspiderfish
- Posts: 3315
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: Three unidentified ant queens
All of these measurements are short for what these ants seem to be, which is Lasius sp., Formica sp., and Aphaenogaster occidentalis.
Please embed your photographs:
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2166
Please embed your photographs:
http://forum.AntsCanada.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2166
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.
Re: Three unidentified ant queens
Sorry, try as I might, I can't seem to pull it off.
- Batspiderfish
- Posts: 3315
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: Three unidentified ant queens
You just right-click on the images and it says "copy URL". And, for some reason, pasting the URL and going to the image deletes the link from your clipboard, which is one of the dumbest things I've seen from an image host. If you just paste the link here and add the img brackets, it works fine.
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.
Re: Three unidentified ant queens
Well, it isn't much of a picture, but an hour of time, three different hosts, and six deleted posts later, we have ignition! Thank you for the help
- Batspiderfish
- Posts: 3315
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:47 pm
- Location: Maine
Re: Three unidentified ant queens
Myrmica would be a sensible guess for a queen of that reported size, but like I said, I think these measurements are useless guesses. It looks more like Aphaenogaster, especially considering the size difference between queen and worker. Also notice that the antennae don't appear to be clubbed.
North American Myrmica cannot be identified to the species in your typical macro photograph. Their identification criteria goes much farther than coloration or easy morphological features. You generally need to dissect specimens and look at cross-sections to identify Myrmica to the species.
North American Myrmica cannot be identified to the species in your typical macro photograph. Their identification criteria goes much farther than coloration or easy morphological features. You generally need to dissect specimens and look at cross-sections to identify Myrmica to the species.
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.
Re: Three unidentified ant queens
Sorry Folks, I have no idea where these photos came from. I did a stupid thing and cleared some "old" photos, not realizing what would happen. It looks to me as if Imgur filled in with something that should not be here. I have reported the posts.
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