11 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

1. Location of collection:  Pinyon Pines, San Jacinto Mountains, California.
2. Date of collection:  3-8-2014.
3. Habitat of collection:  Pinyon pine high desert scrub.
4. Length (from head to gaster):  7mm to 13mm (Workers), 13mm (Major), 14mm (Queen).
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:  Yellow thorax and gaster, orangish-brown head, and very little hair.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 
7. Anything else distinctive: 
8. Nest description:  Typical looking, flattened mound of dirt about 4 inches in diameter.
 
I thought I might have been digging up a founding chamber, but it turned out to be a mature nest with the queen and all just under the surface. I collected as many workers as I could. One minor worker died so I was able to put it under the microscope, but it was kind of curled up, so the pictures didn't come out very good.
Queen
 

 

 
 
Major
 

 

 

 
 
Minor
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 
 
Habitat
 

[wook]

I just woke up, but this might look like Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) ocreatus by hairs, pigmentation and possibly location.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, but if that's true, then I doubt the ones I see a lot around the mountains closer to where I live are C. ocreatus like I have always believed. Those are more of a redish-orange with a black head and black front half of the thorax, which looks exactly like a lot of the pictures I find online of C. ocreatus, but I know, sometimes you can have the same species with quite different looking color...

[Crystals]

Nice.  I don't have any light colored Camponotus in my area.

 

Interesting that you found them in the ground.  In my location, almost all Camponotus nest in wood although 2 species like to nest under rocks (but they are only found in extremely rocky areas like the Rocky Mountains).

I wonder why there are no ground dwelling Camponotus in my area....

[dspdrew]

I don't know, it seems like most of the Camponotus around here are ground nesting species.

[Crystals]

Looking at the shape of the petiole, and taking the coloration somewhat into consideration, I would hazard a guess of either Camponotus semitestaceus or Camponotus sansabaenus

[dspdrew]

Yeah C. semitestaceus was my first guess, but I think they have just a tad bit too much hair. As for C. sansabaenus, I think they have way too much hair. Even though the C. ocreatus I usually see look much different in color, and are a little larger, I am going to guess that's what these are; the hair looks identical, and there are a few C. ocreatus pictures on AntWeb that have coloring exactly like these.

[Trailandstreet]

A very fascinating coloured ant. Looks like it would be made of glass.

[LAnt]

Just wondering dspdrew, did you drive to palm desert only to find ants?

[Apex]

beautiful queen!

[dspdrew]

Just wondering dspdrew, did you drive to palm desert only to find ants?

Yup.

[dspdrew]

Well these turned out to be C. semitestaceus according to James C. Trager.