2 replies to this topic

[kellakk]

1. Location of collection: Mount San Gorgonio, California.
2. Date of collection:  3-26-2015.
3. Habitat of collection:  Pine forest; 10,000 ft.
4. Length (from head to gaster):  8 mm.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:  Bicolored, dark brown-black gaster and red head/thorax
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 
7. Anything else distinctive: 
8. Nest description: 

 

 

I found these ants running around close to the peak of San Gorgonio.  They gave me an excuse to stop for a little while .  I tried to emulate the antweb pictures as close as possible, but I'm limited on tools and equipment so this is how it turned out. Hopefully the pics are still useful!

Edited by kellakk, March 27 2015 - 9:24 PM.

[Crystals]

Good pictures.  This is one of the parasitic Formica.

With formica, the first things you look for is the curvature at the top of the head, and the shape of the clypeus. 

This ant has a very concave curvature and a round clypeus, which puts it in the rufa group.  There are several very close look a likes in this group, and I can't blow up the face shot enough to see some of the smaller detail.

http://www.antweb.or...project=calants

[dspdrew]

Looks just like the Formica ravida we find up near Big Bear, CA. There was probably a giant mound somewhere near by. I really want a colony of F. ravida.