9 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

I have never really taken the time to positively ID my Crematogaster colony to the species level. I got some way better photos of them from another member I sold them to, so I thought I would post them and see if somebody could at least take a stab at it. My hunch is either lineolata or ashmeadi.

 

1. Location: Found at the Washington Sailing Marina along the banks of the Potomac River just outside Washington, DC

2. Date: 9-2-2018

3. Habitat an open park area with mature trees and open grassy areas along side the Potomac River

4. Length: Workers 3-4mm, Queen 6mm

5. Color: Jet black and shiny

6. Distinguishing characteristics: Really energetic and good at escaping

7. Distinguishing behavior: Feed heavily on protein, love escaping

8. Nest description: I couldn't find the actual nest the queens originated from

9. Nuptial flight time and date: 2:00pm September 2, 2018

 

[TennesseeAnts]

Looks like mine. Mine are Crematogaster cerasi.

[ANTdrew]

How did you ID yours as cerasi?

[Aaron567]

Either Crematogaster cerasi or lineolata. The propodeal spines on these ants are too long for C. ashmeadi which have very short, stubby spines. I never even attempt to separate cerasi and lineolata because they're so similar and are both extremely common relative to other Crematogaster in the east.

[TennesseeAnts]

How did you ID yours as cerasi?

Exactly what Aaron said lol.

[ANTdrew]

Thank you both! I guess a microscope would be needed to separate between cerasi and lineolata?

[ANTdrew]

How did you ID yours as cerasi?

Exactly what Aaron said lol.

Sorry to be annoying, but how do you know yours aren’t lineolata? I’m wondering what one would actually look for.

[NickAnter]

The amount of erect hairs on the (mesosoma?). Basically, you need a microscope.

[TennesseeAnts]

The most common Crematogaster of the two in my area is cerasi, so I went with that as my ID.

[Aaron567]

Basically if you look at them under a microscope cerasi will only have about 2-4 erect hairs on the pronotum (front of the mesosoma) and lineolata will have a lot more (10+) that usually cover both the pronotum and mesonotum.