20 replies to this topic

[VoidElecent]

These queens were collected and photographed in Colorado.

 

Queen 1, Pogonomyrmex sp.

 

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Confluence Park, Downtown Denver, Colorado
2. Date of collection: August 9, 2019
3. Habitat of collection: Dry-mesic prairie/desert
4. Length (from head to gaster): 9.5-10.5 mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Bright red-orange; large/wide head; thin, wasp-like gaster; prominent, sculpted petiole nodes; 12 antennal segments.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: All characteristics indicative of Pogonomyrmex.
7. Distinguishing behavior: 
8. Nest description: Founding chamber in sandy clay soil; was spotted while excavating chamber.

9. Nuptial flight time and date: Unknown, presumably within the past few days.

 

Photographs of specimen:

 

 

 

 

 

Queen 2: Formica sp.

 

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Fish Creek Falls, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

2. Date of collection: August 6, 2019
3. Habitat of collection: Mixed conifer forest, Aspen Forest; ~7500'-8000' elevation
4. Length (from head to gaster): 8-9 mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Dull orange/red mesosoma with dark pattern; shiny, jet black gaster; black head; one petiole node; 12 antennal segments.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Gaster has become quite bloated and apparently dented since collection.
7. Distinguishing behavior: Fast and sporadic movement, like any Formica.
8. Nest description: Nests of this species were present in groupings of 2-3 to >10, scattered along mountain trail, at elevations ranging from 6500' to 8500' above sea level.

9. Nuptial flight time and date: 08/06/19.

 

 

 

 

Queen 3: Formica sp.

 

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Fish Creek Falls, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

2. Date of collection: August 6, 2019
3. Habitat of collection: Mixed conifer forest, Aspen Forest; ~7500'-8000' elevation
4. Length (from head to gaster): 9-10 mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Matte, bright orange head & mesosoma; black, striped gaster; one petiole node; 12 antennal segments.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Relatively small gaster—presumably parasitic.
7. Distinguishing behavior: Fast and sporadic movement.
8. Nest description: Nests of this species were present in proximity of black Formicia colonies also present on the mountain.

9. Nuptial flight time and date: 08/06/19.

 

 

 

Image of habitat for queens 2 & 3 courtesy of Google Street View:

 

Edited by VoidElecent, August 13 2019 - 8:24 PM.

[PacificNorthWestern]

last one is a parasitic formica, can't narrow down the other 2 very much

[ponerinecat]

Beautiful ants, really nice colors.

[TennesseeAnts]

Queen #2 : Formica neorufibarbis
Queen #3 : Formica pergandei (?)

[AntsBC]

Hopefully, someone from down south can identify the first queen. I suck with Pogonomyrmex, haha.

 

I'm going to argue that the second queen is actually Formica subpolita.

 

The third queen is a slave raider from the F. sanguinea group, maybe F. aserva. If one does not know the region of collection, It's quite difficult to narrow slave raiding Formica down to the species.

Edited by AntsBC, August 14 2019 - 1:49 PM.

[NickAnter]

I believe you mean species. Also, the queen looks a bit like a claustral Pogonomyrmex, as she is quite bulky.

[VoidElecent]

Hopefully, someone from down south can identify the first queen. I suck with Pogonomyrmex, haha.

 

I'm going to argue that the second queen is actually Formica subpolita.

 

The third queen is a slave raider from the F. sanguinea group, maybe F. aserva. If one does not know the region of collection, It's quite difficult to narrow slave raiding Formica down to the species.

 

The habitat and exact location of collection are both included in the post.

[AntsBC]

Hopefully, someone from down south can identify the first queen. I suck with Pogonomyrmex, haha.

I'm going to argue that the second queen is actually Formica subpolita.

The third queen is a slave raider from the F. sanguinea group, maybe F. aserva. If one does not know the region of collection, It's quite difficult to narrow slave raiding Formica down to the species.

The habitat and exact location of collection are both included in the post.

Sorry for the confusion, I meant that if the identifier does not personally know the region and it’s ant fauna, it can be quite difficult to identify them.

Edited by AntsBC, August 14 2019 - 3:21 PM.

[VoidElecent]

Hopefully, someone from down south can identify the first queen. I suck with Pogonomyrmex, haha.

I'm going to argue that the second queen is actually Formica subpolita.

The third queen is a slave raider from the F. sanguinea group, maybe F. aserva. If one does not know the region of collection, It's quite difficult to narrow slave raiding Formica down to the species.

The habitat and exact location of collection are both included in the post.

Sorry for the confusion, I meant that if the identifier does not personally know the region and it’s ant fauna, it can be quite difficult to identify them.

I see. Out of curiosity, why slave-making and not parasitic?

[PacificNorthWestern]

 

 

 

Hopefully, someone from down south can identify the first queen. I suck with Pogonomyrmex, haha.

I'm going to argue that the second queen is actually Formica subpolita.

The third queen is a slave raider from the F. sanguinea group, maybe F. aserva. If one does not know the region of collection, It's quite difficult to narrow slave raiding Formica down to the species.

The habitat and exact location of collection are both included in the post.

Sorry for the confusion, I meant that if the identifier does not personally know the region and it’s ant fauna, it can be quite difficult to identify them.

I see. Out of curiosity, why slave-making and not parasitic?

 

Because like a parasitic queen and going inside a small/established formica host colony, this queen will do that and then it keeps on having to raid other colonies and is fully dependent on host colonies all through out its life, raiding the colonies for brood. Feel free to correct me, I'm not sure if this is 100% accurate. I'm not sure about the first part and they might even just steal brood instead of full on parasitizing the colony.

[AntsBC]

 

 

 

Hopefully, someone from down south can identify the first queen. I suck with Pogonomyrmex, haha.

I'm going to argue that the second queen is actually Formica subpolita.

The third queen is a slave raider from the F. sanguinea group, maybe F. aserva. If one does not know the region of collection, It's quite difficult to narrow slave raiding Formica down to the species.

The habitat and exact location of collection are both included in the post.

Sorry for the confusion, I meant that if the identifier does not personally know the region and it’s ant fauna, it can be quite difficult to identify them.

I see. Out of curiosity, why slave-making and not parasitic?

 

 

Clypeal notch

 

[rbarreto]

Not all sanguinea group are obligate slave makers. I believe the only one confirmed to be is Formica subintegra (that I've seen). Formica aserva is known to be facultative though and I strongly believe this queen to be aserva.

That being said I'm not about to argue with the guy who wrote a huge breakdown of parasitic Formica lol.

Edited by rbarreto, August 14 2019 - 6:57 PM.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

I'll say Pogonomyrmex occidentalis based on the way the rear mandible bends backward.

[VoidElecent]

Small update. The second Formica queen has a worker! She is small and black. She and her mommy are healthy and living in a THA mini hearth. Any ideas on how I could narrow down the ID?

[Antkid12]

To me it looks like Formica neorufibarbis.

[Manitobant]

I definitely agree that the last queen is raptiformica. Founding them is the same as other parasites although most species can open pupae.

[Froggy]

Not related to an ID but, what camera did you use? These are amazing photos

[TechAnt]

Queen 1: Pogomyrmex Californicus(Maybe?)

[NickAnter]

Not P. californicus, has spines on the mesosoma.

[TechAnt]

Not P. californicus, has spines on the mesosoma.

Oh, missed that.