13 replies to this topic

[Jean]

Found in: Tucson, AZ

on 11/10/18

Part of a large colony in hole in the earth (dried dirt/sand) between a busy street & wash

Appear black in sunlight but brown in pics

Non-aggressive - not like Novomessor or Pogonomyrmex - but not mellow like Myrmecocystus

Has two little spikes coming off back area (midsection)

Likes drinking prickly pear cactus nectar

Colony hole has a lot of plant matter, mulched-up, outside colony

Size is 2/8 to 3/8 of an inch

 

From Alex Wild photos, the closest match looks like Myrmica but I am not confident 

 

 

[Serafine]

Looks a lot like Messor, possibly a Veromessor species of some kind.

[AntsBC]

Pretty confident that it is Veromessor pergandei

 

There are only two species of Veromessor recorded in AZ: V. pergandei and V. lobognathus. There are no Messor species in Arizona as well. http://antmaps.org/?...ionKey=BEN20020

 

Also, the photo Miles listed is V. pergandei  https://bugguide.net/node/view/1189749

 

Edit:

Starting to agree that it could be Pogonomyrmex rugosus instead, the shininess does point to it. The only thing that doesn't add up is colour? Although I'm not an expert on Pogonomyrmex so I wouldn't know if the colour is just a variant for them.

Edited by AntsBC, November 14 2018 - 4:00 PM.

[Jean]

Thanks a lot. I am just getting started and finding a lot of different genera in my immediate area.

[YsTheAnt]

I doubt it is Veromessor, they are extremely shiny and this ant has far less luster. Pheidole perhaps?

[CallMeCraven]

I was thinking it looks like a Pogonomyrmex.

[YsTheAnt]

Could be @CallMeCraven. Could we get precise measurements in millimeters? That would narrow it down, as 1/4 of an inch can make the difference between Pogonomyrmex and Messor or Pheidole.

[Miles]

Retracted: I've seen Veromessor in Tucson. This looks like it fits the bill.

 

Edited by Miles, November 14 2018 - 7:26 PM.

[Ferox_Formicae]

This is not Veromessor pergandei as she has a different mesosoma shape, and it is definitely not Pheidole sp. as the mesosoma shape is different in them too. I have no doubt in my mind that this is Pogonomyrmex rugosus, an rather common species with a painful sting.

[gcsnelling]

Better images would help but I am leaning towards P. rugosus.

[Jean]

As for size, I'm afraid my measurements aren't very reliable. I would say between 3/16 and 1/4 inch. Does color make a difference? This ant was definitely brown, not black. I found a very similar looking ant that was pure black, and smaller, nearby, which looked more like that group photo of Veromessor in Tucson from Miles. I agree, this little gal was not shiny. I would love to speculate more, but my extreme ant ignorance at this stage in the hobby is … well … extreme.

[Jean]

Thanks, I am going with the Pogonomyrmex theory since they are quite common around here. I am looking forward to getting better shots. Have the right camera, but not enough experience with insects yet.

[Miles]

And this is why you shouldn't post to the forums on a cell phone!

 

I retract my earlier attempt at an ID. I agree, this looks much more like Pogonomyrmex now that I've got it pulled up on the big screen. Fun challenge!

[gcsnelling]

Yup, cell phones get me every time.