4 replies to this topic

[Nare]

1. Near Dorset, Central Ontario, Canada

2. 2019-08-14
3. Canadian Sheild (Boreal Forest)
4. 9mm
5. Dark red head and thorax, silky black gaster. Dark red legs.
6. 1 petiole node (?), many hairs on the back of the gaster. Possible "clypeal notch".
7. Has accepted Formica cf. fusca group pupae and callows, is probably socially parasitic / slave raiding Formica.
8. No nest found.

9. 2-3 PM, 2019-08-14
10 . 

 

Trying to determine what exactly this girl is, It's been suggested she's Formica subintegra, but there isn't complete consensus on that. Someone else suggested she might be F. rubicunda (Don't know if I spelt that right). An exact species ID would be great, as if she isn't an obligate slave raider, I'm going to try and keep her. Any help is appreciated, just ask if you need more pictures.

 

EDIT: Adding more photos...

Edited by Nare, September 8 2019 - 7:23 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

It looks like Formica rubicunda.

[Canadian anter]

Petiole too blunt for rubicunda

[TennesseeAnts]

Petiole too blunt for rubicunda

Really? I didn't think so....

[AntsBC]

Unfortunately, she does have a clypeal notch, which means she is a slave raider from the F. sanguinea group. She appears to be one of the obligate slave raiders; the only North American slave raider which has been proven to be facultative is F. aserva, which I can confidently say she is not.

 

I'll work on getting a exact identification for you; although it is quite hard to do for species in the F. sanguinea group. I'll edit this post once I do. (Edit: Me and Nare were able to identify this queen as F. rubicunda, after I got additional photos and information on Discord).

Edited by AntsBC, August 26 2019 - 2:09 PM.