5 replies to this topic

[skocko76]

1. Location of collection: Split, Croatia, Adriatic coast

2. Date of collection: 8th May 2018.
3. Habitat of collection: Balcony of an apartment building, tiles, concrete, not much greenery around
4. Length : cca 11mm
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Shiny black
6. Distinguishing characteristics : fast moving, hard to photograph
7. Anything else distinctive: not to my eye.
8. Nest description : n/a. Found as a dealate
9 . Post the clearest pictures possible: Photographed in a petri dish. Was very restless, sorry.

 

Camponotus sp?

 

 

[Barristan]

Probably Camponotus piceus they are currently flying:

 

Edited by Barristan, May 8 2018 - 11:11 AM.

[T.C.]

I'd agree with Camponotus piceus

[skocko76]

Certainly looks like C. piceus! Only things that confuses me is that it should be 9 mm, and it is actually 11mm. Also, C. piceus is described as having brown underside, whereas this one is black troughtout.

What about C. fallax? It is flying in May. Also C. aethiopis is local here, fully black, but doesn't fly until June.

[Jonathan21700]

It's definitely not C. fallax neither C. aethiops. Also don't mind those measurements they can often be incorrect or variable. I'm pretty sure that your queen is C. piceus but there are a few possibilities in the C. lateralis species group that have not been yet recorded from your country, so better post pictures when you get workers. 

[skocko76]

I checked up on the queen today and found out the first nanite had enclosed.

Her head is lighter than the rest of the body, so maybe C. lateralis might be right. Or it just enclosed and did not harden yet.

What do you think?