16 replies to this topic

[Alacom]

I caught this Queen in California right in my backyard. It was on April 26, and there had been a light right 6 days prior. I think it’s a camponotus pennsylvanicus Queen, and she already laid eggs. Sorry for the bad pics.
https://imgur.com/gallery/EHZGVkA

[ponerinecat]

You is probably correct.

[iamAntMan]

I would say its not a camponotus pennsylvanicus. It is definitely some kind of formica, judging by the queens red legs.

[rbarreto]

I'd guess Camponotus modoc.

Edited by rbarreto, May 2 2019 - 7:27 PM.

[Jamiesname]

Please read the ant ID template and fill in the missing information so we can help get a positive ID. That doesn't look like C. pennsylvanicus. though, at least in those pics.

Edited by Jamiesname, May 2 2019 - 6:26 PM.

[Alacom]

I'd say Camponotus modoc.

It looks a lot like one, but something about the thorax looks a bit different on the two.

[Alacom]

I tried to be more specific in the details and tried to take a better picture (but it’s trash)

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Modesto, California
2. Date of collection: April 26th, 2019
3. Habitat of collection: Suburbs
4. Length (from head to gaster ): Pretty much exactly 1cm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Dark brown with reddish-brown legs.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: I don’t think her antennae are long enough to be Formica, and her thorax looks a bit different than that of Camponotus. modoc.
7. Distinguishing behavior: Stays relatively calm when disturbed.
8. Nest description: (See picture)
9. Nuptial flight time and date: I’m not sure about the exact nuptial flight date for the mass of her species, as I didn’t see any other queens. I assume that it was either the end of a nuptial flight or it was a mini one. I caught her at around 9pm.


https://imgur.com/gallery/mHw2ee5

[nurbs]

Ten mm is too small to be C. modoc or C. pennsylvanicus. 

[EthanNgo678]

This is not a Camponotus queen this is a Liometopum occidentale queen.

[Alacom]

This is not a Camponotus queen this is a Liometopum occidentale queen.

I’m not sure. I keep 2 Liometopum occidentale colonies rn and the queens from that species have longer back legs and a smaller thorax. They also lay a lot more eggs.

Edited by Alacom, May 2 2019 - 7:47 PM.

[LC3]

I agree with Ethan. L. occidentale. Unless you have definitive measurements of the aforementioned body parts it's likely this is just typical variation within a species.

[Alacom]

I agree with Ethan. L. occidentale. Unless you have definitive measurements of the aforementioned body parts it's likely this is just typical variation within a species.

I was going off of a picture I took a year ago of one of my current queens. https://imgur.com/gallery/fzx2IlI
You guys seem pretty confident about it though, so I’ll go with your answer. It must be a coincidence that as soon as I find out one of the three Liometopum occidentale queens I caught last summer died over winter that it gets replaced with a new one.

[LC3]

The other option would be L. luctuosum. Either way it is definitely Liometopum.

[Alacom]

The other option would be L. luctuosum. Either way it is definitely Liometopum.

Yeah because I can see the similarities to my Occidentale colonies but there are a few things a bit off.

[Alacom]

I remeasured and she’s 12mm

[LC3]

L. apiculatum is the last option

[Alacom]

L. apiculatum is the last option

K thanks for the help