I recently received two P. occidentalis queens from UtahAntShop. Yet today when I was feeding them I observed that one queen was slightly larger than the other. Could she be a larger species such as P. barbatus?
Title
Location of Collection: unspecified location in the southwestern U.S.
Current Date: 3/7/2020
Body
Location of Collection: Unspecified location in the southwestern U.S.
Date of Collection: Date of collection unknown.
Habitat of collection: Habitat of collection unknown.
Length: 9 millimeters.
Coloration: Mostly red; semi-translucent bright orange strip a mm or so from the tip of the gaster; black wing scars; mandibles and area of head almost up to eyes is black.
Distinguishing characteristics: mandibles and head are slightly larger than that of the smaller queen; gaster is noticeably larger than that of the smaller queen.
Anything else distinctive: N/A
Nest description: Nest description is unavailable.
Nuptial flight time and date: Nuptial flight time and date is unknown.
Photos: I apologize for the poor quality of these photos. They were the best I could do through the glare, condensation, and iPad camera.
Note: The queen on the right is the larger queen which I am attempting to identify.
Edited by AntsDakota, March 7 2020 - 3:51 PM.
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