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Solenopsis xyloni battling Solenopsis cf. molesta!

Started By NickAnter , May 29 2019 7:17 PM

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#1 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 29 2019 - 7:17 PM

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So, while out looking for ants at my old elementary school, I was looking at a Nylanderia vividula colony, when I saw some Solenopsis xyloni.  This was a relatively small colony, compared to others in the vicinity, and I saw that some workers were limping, and there were alate wings everywhere. I then saw an xyloni worker with S. cf. molesta workers biting and stinging it's legs!  i then saw some molesta alates being carried by xyloni majors.  Well, one thing learned, is that the little Solenopsis here are polygynous, as there were many non-winged queens being killed, and that the workers are extremely pale, even for molesta.  I never knew that it would be the thief ants that ended up getting raided, and by a bigger ant! :lol: I will definetly be getting a queen of theses little Solenopsis, and will certainly check back tomorrow to see if the war is still going on. have any of you seen this?  Also, do S. molesta get extremely pale workers, or have you seen any?  Can't post an ID thread as I do not have a macro lens, or a good camera. :ugone2far: Anyway, all extremely interesting in my opinion!


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#2 Offline gcsnelling - Posted May 30 2019 - 2:18 AM

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The non winged queens do not necessarily  indicate polygyny, just that some of the alates may have lost their wings already. The molesta things in California are commonly very pale.


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#3 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 30 2019 - 2:42 PM

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Thank you for he info!


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#4 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 30 2019 - 6:37 PM

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Well, still battling, and the Molesta are winning. The molesta are above ground because the queens are still scouting out for a nuptial fligh, even though it is clearly too windy. The queens of this species can sting, as I saw an alate stinging an Xyloni median. They even managed to take down and kill the largest Xyloni caste! Just crazy!

Edited by NickAnter, May 30 2019 - 6:38 PM.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#5 Offline ponerinecat - Posted May 31 2019 - 11:17 AM

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Well, still battling, and the Molesta are winning. The molesta are above ground because the queens are still scouting out for a nuptial fligh, even though it is clearly too windy. The queens of this species can sting, as I saw an alate stinging an Xyloni median. They even managed to take down and kill the largest Xyloni caste! Just crazy!

I don't think this is molesta


#6 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 31 2019 - 2:01 PM

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What else would it be? It could be salina, but they are just so uncommon.


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#7 Offline gcsnelling - Posted May 31 2019 - 3:27 PM

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No question they are not molesta as that species apparently does not actually occur in California, sadly no one actually knows what S. molesta actually is since the types are lost. My dad went to the type locality and collected samples which based on body chemistry represent two species which did nothing to clear the situation up.


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#8 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 31 2019 - 5:13 PM

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Wow! I didn"t know that.  Thank you for sharing.


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#9 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted May 31 2019 - 5:16 PM

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No question they are not molesta as that species apparently does not actually occur in California, sadly no one actually knows what S. molesta actually is since the types are lost. My dad went to the type locality and collected samples which based on body chemistry represent two species which did nothing to clear the situation up.


How did the types get lost?

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#10 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 31 2019 - 5:26 PM

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I got pictures! Got imgur. This photos shows the little Solenopsis attacking the Xyloni major.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#11 Offline gcsnelling - Posted May 31 2019 - 5:26 PM

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It could have occurred in any number of ways.


#12 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 31 2019 - 5:27 PM

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Sorry about the bad pics, will find a better one, and one with the queen attacking.

Edited by NickAnter, May 31 2019 - 5:28 PM.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#13 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 31 2019 - 5:32 PM

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Here we go:
Rats, wrong one, sorry.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#14 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 31 2019 - 5:33 PM

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Deleted, Sorry, meant to delete the previous post, this was the one with the queen attacking.


Edited by NickAnter, June 1 2019 - 6:13 AM.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#15 Offline Acutus - Posted May 31 2019 - 5:36 PM

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Looks like the War is over! In both pics it looks like little ants carrying big ants in pieces. Have you actually seen the battle? Is maybe the larger ant colony already dead somehow and they are just farming the dead for food?


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Camponotus chromaiodes

Camponotus castaneus

Formica subsericea

#16 Offline NickAnter - Posted May 31 2019 - 5:46 PM

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I was not able to check today, but in that picture, that only shows the dying Xyloni workers, there were more. I assure you that there are still hundred s of very living Xyloni workers there. The molesta things only attack them when the xyloni wander over their nests, which would normally be subterranean, but because as aforementioned,as the queens are looking around, they are out and about. I bet that they are still battling right now. In the first pic, that major was still alive, but I took the pic when it had stopped struggling momentarily. The molestas are climbing on the xylonis in an attempt to sting them, they do not have the strength to move them. And I did see the battle, as I took those pictures. It is the Nylanderia vividula that make piles of dead xyloni workers, here:

Edited by NickAnter, May 31 2019 - 5:49 PM.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#17 Offline Acutus - Posted May 31 2019 - 7:00 PM

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Sounds so cool! You should get some video!! :D


Billy

 

Currently keeping:

Camponotus chromaiodes

Camponotus castaneus

Formica subsericea

#18 Offline NickAnter - Posted June 1 2019 - 9:14 AM

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I will try today with the newly acquired magnifier setting, it may be better than before.  I tried a few days ago and the quality was horrendous.


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#19 Offline Acutus - Posted June 1 2019 - 10:18 AM

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I'll make some popcorn and get ready for the new "Ant WAR Video!!"  (y)  (y)  (y)


Billy

 

Currently keeping:

Camponotus chromaiodes

Camponotus castaneus

Formica subsericea

#20 Offline NickAnter - Posted June 1 2019 - 1:35 PM

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I have a question: can you put videos on Imgur? If yes, I will post a video tonight.


Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

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