14 replies to this topic

[Lazarus]

Sorry for the quality of pictures.

1. Location of collection: Toronto (Scarborough), Ontario, Canada
2. Date of collection : 27 July 2019
3. Habitat of collection: Sidewalk (next to high traffic road)
4. Length: 7.5 mm tip of gaster to mandible. (Quite small)
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Black with reddish legs.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: N/A
7. Anything else distinctive: N/A

 

 

 

 

[Mercutia]

Looks like Tetramorium imigrans.

[camponotuskeeper]

I have seen many tetramorium immigrans queens and that looks like one to me

[rbarreto]

Congrats Lazarus, you finally found something that wasn't Camponotus novaeboracensis or Formica subsericea!

[Canadian anter]

Congrats Lazarus, you finally found something that wasn't Camponotus novaeboracensis or Formica subsericea!

He had to come down to Toronto tho lol

[rbarreto]

Congrats Lazarus, you finally found something that wasn't Camponotus novaeboracensis or Formica subsericea!

He had to come down to Toronto tho lol

Pfft Ottawa is way better for anting

[Lazarus]

Thanks to all. Yes I was just thrilled to capture a new species.

 

The forecast was borderline rain throughout the weekend for both Ottawa and Toronto so my main worry was that Ottawa would have nuptials and not Toronto.

 

Here's the funny thing. The only reason I caught this one was that my son and I got off a bus 1 stop short of the one we were supposed to get off. Walking the span between those 2 stops is where I found her. I actually saw another queen moments before this one and as my son and I discussed whether it was a queen or not she managed to get into a sidewalk crack before I could take out my pill bottle for just such occasions. When I saw this one I was ready.

[Mercutia]

We have a lot of species having their nuptials right now. All seem to be coinciding and overlapping. Today alone I went on a walk and spotted Camponotus pennsylvanicus, Formica subsericea, and Tetramorium imigrans all within my workplace parking lot. It's a weird year for certain.

[Lazarus]

I suspect that the infrequent/period rains this summer are wreaking havoc with their nuptial triggers. At some point they just have to go.

[rbarreto]

I believe it had something to do with the unusually cold May/June.

[Canadian anter]

I suspect that the infrequent/period rains this summer are wreaking havoc with their nuptial triggers. At some point they just have to go.

man the Prenolepis imparis flights were the only ones who weren't off schedule. Temnothorax are months behind

[Ikerrilove]

 

I suspect that the infrequent/period rains this summer are wreaking havoc with their nuptial triggers. At some point they just have to go.

man the Prenolepis imparis flights were the only ones who weren't off schedule. Temnothorax are months behind

 

 

I knew my yard would be behind since it was kinda underwater but I didn't realize Toronto would be behind too because of temps. I will say, ants can survive a prolonged flood with no drop in numbers around here lol man can they survive and thrive here in the wild. They're eating my friends cottage though but they don't seem to mind, even when they could see the nest chambers after the wood came off with their deck. Just put up more wood and reattached the deck

[Unfrozen]

only queens in my area are tetras, prenolepis imparis and I've found 2 companotus queens in all my anting

and both of the companotus were at bad times i didn't have any containers on me (well one of them was when i was like 10 so)

[TennesseeAnts]

Actually, this is the rare Pinkomyrmex pseudomagnus. You are super lucky...

[Lazarus]

only queens in my area are tetras, prenolepis imparis and I've found 2 companotus queens in all my anting

and both of the companotus were at bad times i didn't have any containers on me (well one of them was when i was like 10 so)

 

I always have empty pill bottles close by. 2 in the car. 2 in my knapsack, and 2 on a table close to my front door. Even if I'm just going out for a movie or something, if I don't take my knapsack I'll slip a bottle into one of my pockets. (This worked great one evening when I did in fact find a queen right in front of a mall movie theater.)

 

Be ready!