9 replies to this topic

[brasch]

1. Location of collection: Landed in Kiddie Pool in Back Yard. Urban 

2. Date of collection: Late May 2019
3. Habitat of collection: Forested Urban
4. Length: Approx 1 CM
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Multi colored gaster. Honey to dark brown
6. Distinguishing characteristics:

Album: Charlie's Queen

3 images

0 comments

9. Nuptial flight time and date: Late May, found as an Alate 
10 . Picture attached.
 

[Aaron567]

Fire ants. Due to the location, it is either going to be Solenopsis richteri or the Solenopsis invicta x richteri hybrid that is dominant in Tennessee and all nearby parts of the bordering states to the east, south, and west.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Fire ants. Due to the location, it is either going to be Solenopsis richteri or the Solenopsis invicta x richteri hybrid that is dominant in Tennessee and all nearby parts of the bordering states to the east, south, and west.

Heh, except for South Carolina for some odd reason, though I have seen some Solenopsis observation on iNaturalist from the northern parts of SC that seem to be very similar to S. ricteri/S. richteri x invicta. I'll be heading up there tomorrow though, so I'll have to see if I can make another new state record.

[TennesseeAnts]

Definitely Solenopsis invicta x rchrti. Hate these things.... Memphis and any surrounding city are completely overrun.

[ponerinecat]

 

Fire ants. Due to the location, it is either going to be Solenopsis richteri or the Solenopsis invicta x richteri hybrid that is dominant in Tennessee and all nearby parts of the bordering states to the east, south, and west.

Heh, except for South Carolina for some odd reason, though I have seen some Solenopsis observation on iNaturalist from the northern parts of SC that seem to be very similar to S. ricteri/S. richteri x invicta. I'll be heading up there tomorrow though, so I'll have to see if I can make another new state record.

 

How many records do you intend to make? At this rate it won't even be something special anymore.

[Ferox_Formicae]

 

 

Fire ants. Due to the location, it is either going to be Solenopsis richteri or the Solenopsis invicta x richteri hybrid that is dominant in Tennessee and all nearby parts of the bordering states to the east, south, and west.

Heh, except for South Carolina for some odd reason, though I have seen some Solenopsis observation on iNaturalist from the northern parts of SC that seem to be very similar to S. ricteri/S. richteri x invicta. I'll be heading up there tomorrow though, so I'll have to see if I can make another new state record.

 

How many records do you intend to make? At this rate it won't even be something special anymore.

 

It's not that I intend to make them. It just kinda happens...

[RushmoreAnts]

Definitely Solenopsis invicta x rchrti. Hate these things.... Memphis and any surrounding city are completely overrun.

Are there any theories of how such a crossover occurred? The subject fascinates me, as seeing how ant mating cycles usually prevent inter-species breeding. 

[TennesseeAnts]

The species are just closely related.

[ponerinecat]

 

Definitely Solenopsis invicta x rchrti. Hate these things.... Memphis and any surrounding city are completely overrun.

Are there any theories of how such a crossover occurred? The subject fascinates me, as seeing how ant mating cycles usually prevent inter-species breeding. 

 

This is very rare. Usualy only very closely related species can do this, and even then the fertilization usually doesn't take place or the offspring are infertile. Sometimes it does happen successfully though.

[RushmoreAnts]

Fascinating how the new species became so prolific, though.