8 replies to this topic

[Vern530]

1. Location (on a map) of collection: gridley ca
2. Date of collection: 1-24-2020
3. Habitat of collection: Under stone in moist soil
4. Length (from head to gaster):small (queen about size of tetramorium queen but bigger head)photo shoes size of worker compared to my thumb
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: black body redish /gold hue to legs and antennae 
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 3 queens in one colony
7. Distinguishing behavior:
8. Nest description: under stone moist soil

9. Nuptial flight time and date:

Attached Images

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[jeffpbalderston]

Myrmecina americana?

[AnthonyP163]

Looks like Aphaenogaster, perhaps Aphaenogaster occidentalis.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Aphaenogaster occidentalis.

[TennesseeAnts]

Aphaenogaster picea it looks like.

[AnthonyP163]

Aphaenogaster picea it looks like.

A. picea is an eastern species, keep in mind the poster is in California.

[jeffpbalderston]

Probably nanitics and the reason why the workers are smaller than normal? Second that now to Aphaenogaster occidentalis.

[ponerinecat]

Probably nanitics and the reason why the workers are smaller than normal? Second that now to Aphaenogaster occidentalis.

Normal size for aphaenogaster workers. Looking at the colony size, it's unlikely they are nanitics.

[Vern530]

ya not sure the species but colony was well into hundreds