10 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

1. Location of collection: Twin Peaks, California.
2. Date of collection:  9-10-2014.
3. Habitat of collection:  Pine/Oak Forest.
4. Length (from head to gaster):  8 mm (female), 3 mm (male), 3 mm (worker).
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:  Brown, with yellowish-orange gaster, legs, and underside (female); all dark brown (male); all yellowish-orange (worker).
6. Distinguishing characteristics:
7. Anything else distinctive: 
8. Nest description:  Under a flat rock.

 

Queen

 

 

 

 

 

Male

 

 

 

 

 

Worker

 

 

 

[dspdrew]

I'm just going to give it my best guess looking at AntWeb and without keying it out: L. californicus.

[Gregory2455]

Do you have any live queens? Citronella ants are cool.

[dspdrew]

I am wrong about L. californicus. I don't know what they are.

[Gregory2455]

No citrus smell?

[dspdrew]

Haha nope. If these non-parasitic ants are Citronella ants, that'll be news to most myrmecologists.

[Gregory2455]

Can't it be something like Lasius flavus?

[AntsAreUs]

That looks like Lasius flavus to me. 

[James C. Trager]

I'd like a good view of the female or worker (or both) maxillary palps, please. But yes, does look like L. flavus-group. Queen morphology and long palps indicate clearly not in the citronella group.

Edited by James C. Trager, November 8 2014 - 9:45 AM.

[Gregory2455]

I vote Lasius cf. flavus!

 

Because I think flavus is the only member of the Flavus group found in California. Please correct me on this if I am wrong.

Edited by Gregory2455, December 31 2014 - 10:16 PM.

[AntsAreUs]

One question, I only know the Formica groups and Pheidole groups, but what are the Lasius groups, wouldn't that be like Cautolasius or Acanthomyops?