7 replies to this topic

[CatsnAnts]

Hi, I caught 8 temnothorax queens last night, 3 of which I’m positive at temnothorax curvispinosus. Those 3 queens are all very dark in color and are 3.5 mm. The other five queens that I want to identify are also 3.5 mm, but instead of being very dark in color, they are a bright orange. I have a feeling they are also temnothorax curvispinosus. I found them last night June 25th at around 11:00 p.m. They were attracted to my blacklight, and I was around a wooded area on my patio:





And if these are temnothorax curvispinosus, does that mean I can put all 8 queens together?

[TennesseeAnts]

I found those same Temnothorax last night! I have no idea what they are. They looked like a lighter curvispinosus.

[CatsnAnts]

I found those same Temnothorax last night! I have no idea what they are. They looked like a lighter curvispinosus.

Ya, I figured they could be that, but there was no median between the very dark ones and the very light one’s, so that’s why I’m confused on if they are Temnohorax curvispinosus or not. I’m pretty sure though that they can have this color variation though, so I guess we’ll see.

Edited by CatsnAnts, June 26 2019 - 5:15 AM.

[Canadian anter]

Either curvispinosus or ambiguus probably

[TennesseeAnts]

Either curvispinosus or ambiguus probably

I was thinking ambiguus as well.

[CatsnAnts]

Ambiguus does seem right. Are they polygynous though, because I have all 5 queens together and they are getting along now, but who knows about later?

[TennesseeAnts]

I believe most Temnothorax are, because they are so small. I have found that ants with small queens tend to be polygynous so founding is easier and they can get larger worker counts at the end of the year.

[CatsnAnts]

I believe most Temnothorax are, because they are so small. I have found that ants with small queens tend to be polygynous so founding is easier and they can get larger worker counts at the end of the year.

True, I think they’ll all get along just fine.

EDIT: I read online that ambiguus and curvispinosus are very similar, but I followed up on some differences, and these queens are definitely temnothorax ambiguus.

Edited by CatsnAnts, June 26 2019 - 7:45 AM.