13 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

1. Location of collection: Llano, California.
2. Date of collection:  3-20-2015.
3. Habitat of collection:  High Desert.
4. Length (from head to gaster):  13 mm.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:  Brown head, orange and brown thorax, orange and brown gaster, yellow legs and antennae.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Very slow and clumsy.
7. Anything else distinctive:
8. Nest description: Founding chambers are small mounds of dirt 3/4 inches in diameter.

9. Nuptial flight: 9:00 PM 3-20-2015.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Dr. Trager, I have already found out what these are.

[drtrmiller]

Oh yes, those are quite neat.

[Alza]

I want one! how many did you catch ???!?!?

[Gregory2455]

I as well would like to know how many you caught.

[dspdrew]

I only caught like six myself. The rest Bryan caught and gave to me asking for a colony back if they are ever successful.

[Alza]

six...what a nice number

[dspdrew]

Bryan caught 16 of them.

[Gregory2455]

They are not army ants alza.

[Alza]

I know that -.-

[Gregory2455]

I know that -.-

Good!

[dspdrew]

As Greg mentioned to me earlier, these might be completely subterranean and feed exclusively on termite nymphs and ant larvae. Also, these from California might actually be a different species than D. pilatus, but for now are being called D. pilatus.

 

You can read about them here (http://www.antwiki.o.../Cover_2007.pdf).

 

It seems very little is known about them so far, so if I can raise a colony, that might be pretty interesting.

[Jonathan21700]

Are these the first live images of the genus? Really interesting!

[Miles]

So this was what you were telling me about... I've never heard of them! Very interesting find.

[Jonathan21700]

This is the first time I hear for them too!