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Huntington Beach Formica 9/29/19

Started By NickAnter , Sep 29 2019 1:10 PM

Best Answer NickAnter , December 4 2019 - 7:16 PM

Formica perpilosa fits in almost all manners, in size, coloration, physical aspects and nesting behavior. I am about 95% sure, but until I am fully sure, I am not marking it solved.

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#1 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 29 2019 - 1:10 PM

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1. Location: Huntington Beach, CA
2.Date:9/29/19
3.Habitat: Silty soil near a body of brackish water, about 25 feet away. Next to a suburban area.
4.Length: Varies from worker to worker, from 5-6mm. Head and body shape varies a bit though, larger workers are slightly beefier.
5. Color/texture.Red head and thorax, black abdomen. Smooth in texture.
6.NA
7. Acts like most Formica do.
8.Nest is inconspicuous, no mound, just a 8mm (about) hole.
9. NA





I know I won't get a species ID, but I just want to know species group, or if it is a parasitic species, so if next year, I can find a queen and raise it successfully. Thank you for your answers.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#2 Offline Martialis - Posted September 29 2019 - 1:12 PM

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Certainly a Formica. Usually for a species group ID close-ups of the face can be helpful.
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#3 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 29 2019 - 1:17 PM

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I will try. Do you think it is parasitic?

Edited by NickAnter, September 29 2019 - 1:18 PM.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#4 Offline Da_NewAntOnTheBlock - Posted September 29 2019 - 1:35 PM

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I will try. Do you think it is parasitic?

Parasitic queens have smaller gasters and larger heads/mandibles. I'm no formica expert so that would be up to someone else to decide, but that's my advice


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#5 Offline gcsnelling - Posted September 29 2019 - 2:23 PM

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Almost certainly Formica francoeuri.  it is certainly the most common species in that area.


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#6 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted September 29 2019 - 2:26 PM

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Almost certainly Formica francoeuri.  it is certainly the most common species in that area.


But with that coloration though?

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#7 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 29 2019 - 2:42 PM

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The head shape certainly fits. Will try very hard to find some queens next year.
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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#8 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 29 2019 - 3:16 PM

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Hmm. I just looked at F. perpilosa. Looks just like it. Do you think that it is possible that is what they are?

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#9 Offline Manitobant - Posted September 29 2019 - 3:47 PM

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formica moki i think. they are surprisingly not parasitic.


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My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#10 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 29 2019 - 4:31 PM

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I don't think they are F. moki. They are too smooth, and the head is too small.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#11 Offline gcsnelling - Posted September 29 2019 - 4:51 PM

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Hmm. I just looked at F. perpilosa. Looks just like it. Do you think that it is possible that is what they are?

 

If so it would be a bit out of range, coloration is variable in F. francoeuri. F. moki would be highly improbable.


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#12 Offline AntsBC - Posted September 29 2019 - 5:22 PM

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I'm going to have to disagree with Dr. Snelling on this one. F. francoeuri is a hairy species, and this specimen certainly lacks the amount of pubescence typical to F. francoeuri.

 

Formica manni is my guess. At the very least, these guys are in the F. fusca group.

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#13 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 29 2019 - 5:28 PM

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F. manni is parasitic, right? There are no hosts around here.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#14 Offline gcsnelling - Posted September 29 2019 - 5:35 PM

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Without seeing the actual specimen it is tough to be sure of the actual degree of pilosity, I agree this ant appears to be on the less than hairy side but the image quality is rather poor and without better images all this is [censored] poor guess work, even my guesses.


#15 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 29 2019 - 5:46 PM

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In the freezer. Once they are dead, I will be able to actually get good pictures, and under the microscope. Just a few more minutes.

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#16 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 29 2019 - 6:25 PM

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Here is a good macro pic:

Taking pictures through the microscope does not work.
Here is another one:
Another one, from the side:

Edited by NickAnter, September 29 2019 - 6:29 PM.

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Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies. 

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant). 

#17 Offline gcsnelling - Posted September 30 2019 - 2:25 AM

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Better images so I will agree this is not F. francoeuri, not sure off hand what it is though so Formica is the best I will confidently go. Really they censored my above post?


Edited by gcsnelling, September 30 2019 - 2:26 AM.

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#18 Offline Martialis - Posted September 30 2019 - 5:20 AM

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Better images so I will agree this is not F. francoeuri, not sure off hand what it is though so Formica is the best I will confidently go. Really they censored my above post?

 

Everything is censored.


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#19 Offline Manitobant - Posted September 30 2019 - 6:50 AM

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I'm still thinking formica moki. The coloration (especially on the head) and range matches perfectly.
My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#20 Offline AntsBC - Posted September 30 2019 - 8:45 AM

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I'm still thinking formica moki. The coloration (especially on the head) and range matches perfectly.

 

Please do not make identifications, (especially for fusca group Formica), based on color alone. Doing so will just lead people astray.

 

Formica moki is a dull species, with oppressed pubescence present on the gaster. These specimens evidently lack that trait, meaning we can effectively rule out that species. 


Edited by AntsBC, September 30 2019 - 9:24 AM.

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Formica pacifica

Formica planipilis (Parasitic sp.)

 

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