15 replies to this topic

[kellakk]

I went out today gathering Bagrada hilaris for my research project and mustard for dinner.  I stopped by a hill that Foogoo and I saw ant colonies on before and (armed with my new cheap macro lens for my phone) decided to take some pictures.  Apparently there hasn't been a flight yet as I couldn't find a founding chamber anywhere.  I will put a number and possible ID for the colonies before each group of pictures. If you can ID the species in these pictures, please say so!

 

1.  Myrmecocystus sp. ?

 

 

2. Dorymyrmex insanus

Peekaboo!

 

3. Solenopsis xyloni

 

4. Pogonymrmex sp.

Not sure what these girls were up to.  They were sitting in a crack near the nest wriggling their gaster or twitching or something.

 

5. Pheidole (fallax) sp.  EDIT:  The first pic is Forelius sp. and the second is Solenopsis amblychila.

D. insanus messing with the Solenopsis amblychila. It was actively dropping pebbles on the nest entrance.

 

I also found a Formica sp. worker running across the way, but accidentally smashed it while I was collecting it  Anyway, hope you enjoy my first attempt at taking pictures of wild ants!

Edited by kellakk, February 5 2015 - 8:50 AM.

[Foogoo]

Those are some nice pics! I thought those iphone lenses were a gimmick.

[kellakk]

Those are some nice pics! I thought those iphone lenses were a gimmick.

They seem to work fairly well.  I also got an illuminated loupe for cheap so I can try my hand at IDing ants.

[Miles]

As I've said, that is indeed Myrmecocystus, but with those pictures, we can't tell the species.

[dspdrew]

Yeah that first one is definitely Myrmecocystus. These are probably the species that is found all over in the hills around Southern California. I have never been able to ID them, or find any queens, mating flights, or founding chambers from them. Maybe that's part of the reason I really want a colony of them. I would say you got pretty much all the rest of the ID's right. Not sure about #5 though; I think those might be Forelius.

[kellakk]

Yeah that first one is definitely Myrmecocystus. These are probably the species that is found all over in the hills around Southern California. I have never been able to ID them, or find any queens, mating flights, or founding chambers from them. Maybe that's part of the reason I really want a colony of them. I would say you got pretty much all the rest of the ID's right. Not sure about #5 though; I think those might be Forelius.

 

What does 5 look like to you?  I could very well be wrong.  

 

Edit: Whoops, didn't see your edit.   The first picture looks like Forelius sp.  but the second does not.  The pictures were taken within 10 cm of each other so I though they were the same colony! Here's another view of that ant with the D. insanus.

 

Edited by kellakk, February 4 2015 - 6:52 PM.

[dspdrew]

I noticed that last picture did indeed look like Pheidole, and so does the one you just posted. I was going to ask you if these were in separate places.

[BugFinder]

 

Those are some nice pics! I thought those iphone lenses were a gimmick.

They seem to work fairly well.  I also got an illuminated loupe for cheap so I can try my hand at IDing ants.

 

Where did you get your loupe?

[kellakk]

I got my loupe off Amazon.  It's this one, and it seems to work well for the price.

[Gregory2455]

5. Pheidole (fallax) sp.

Really cool images, but this is without a doubt Forelis; the genus of which I made it my personal goal to raise a successful colony.

Either F.mccooki or F.pruinosus, like what I had before.

[kellakk]

I agree. Look at post #6.  Should I change the first post so that it's more clear?

[Gregory2455]

That so called Pheidole sp. being messed with by the D.insanus does actually look more like Solenopsis sp.

[kellakk]

Well, if you're right I found Solenopsis amblychila 

[Gregory2455]

Now you have both of the cool species...

[James C. Trager]

Agree on #6, Solenopsis amblychila.

[dspdrew]

Oops. I don't think I've ever come across any S. amblychila when they weren't swarming.