31 replies to this topic

[TheMicroPlanet]

Some sort of Formica, I know.

 

Maybe Tetramorium? It's about 3 mm long, orangeish legs, black body, pretty big head compared to its gaster, propodeal spine/s. Myrmicine.

 

Maybe some kind of Lasius? Bright orange all around  (gaster almost transluscent). Found nesting under moss. Around 2 mm long.

If you could ID these down the species, that'd be great.

Edited by TheMicroPlanet, April 6 2020 - 9:30 AM.

[Nare]

None of these pictures are showing up for me, but you'll also want to follow the format pinned at the top of the ID section. That'll make identifying your ants a lot easier.

[Broncos]

Yea same.


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[TheMicroPlanet]

Working on redoing the pictures...

 

Can you see them now? Working on the proper format.

Edited by TheMicroPlanet, April 6 2020 - 9:31 AM.

[RushmoreAnts]

The first one could possible be pallidefulva, the third looks like some sort of Lasius parasite.

[TheMicroPlanet]

That was my guess too about the Lasius. These were taken in New York, by the way.

[NickAnter]

Actually, you can't rule out Lasius nearcticus or Lasius brevicornis. Two millimeters is quite small for parasitic Lasius.The first one is in the pallidefulva group, not sure which species though. The second one is most certainly Tetramorium immigrans.

[RushmoreAnts]

brevicornis and nearcticus are more yellowish in coloration, though. Could the measurement be off by a mm?

[TheMicroPlanet]

Thanks. I had a feeling they'd be tetramorium. They're kind of invasive, right?

Actually, you can't rule out Lasius nearcticus or Lasius brevicornis. Two millimeters is quite small for parasitic Lasius.The first one is in the pallidefulva group, not sure which species though. The second one is most certainly Tetramorium immigrans.

Thanks. I had a feeling they'd be Tetramorium. They're kind of invasive, right?

Edited by TheMicroPlanet, April 6 2020 - 9:45 AM.

[TheMicroPlanet]

brevicornis and nearcticus are more yellowish in coloration, though. Could the measurement be off by a mm?

I'll remeasure.

[RushmoreAnts]

They're very invasive. Not as destructive as Solenopsis invicta, but they still cause some damage to the local ecosystems. Fortunately, most of our wildlife is untouched, but Ants_Dakota lives in an area where Tetramorium are prevalent, and I can't say I've seen as much diversity there.......... just Tetramorium and the occasional Formica and Lasius, the only species they can't fully drive out. Fortunately, this only occurs in small areas, and Formica and Lasius still rule.

[Ants_Dakota]

The tetramorium usually just battle each other, and ignore other colonies. they have a sort of agreement with a formica colony that is maybe 8 feet away. The tetramorium colony could easily overcome it, but it does not. Tetramorium is very mysterious.

[TheMicroPlanet]

Undoubtedly 2 mm, maybe a 10th of a mm or so less.

[Ants_Dakota]

Also, on the topic of mysterious, has anyone ever seen a lasius claviger colony inside of a tetramorium? Both of the species were not fighting each other, and the lasius claviger had queens that were about to swarm. Unfortunately, i deleted the pics, though.

[TennesseeAnts]

The Formica is either F. pallidefulva or biophilica.

[TheMicroPlanet]

I noticed that other Formica workers had a slightly darker mesosoma, but other than that looked like all the others. I don't have pics, but could this be an age thing?

[TennesseeAnts]

I noticed that other Formica workers had a slightly darker mesosoma, but other than that looked like all the others. I don't have pics, but could this be an age thing?

Northern variants of Formica pallidefulva group species tend to be darker. Mine here in Tennessee are almost a pure yellow, with orange queens.

[RushmoreAnts]

The tetramorium usually just battle each other, and ignore other colonies. they have a sort of agreement with a formica colony that is maybe 8 feet away. The tetramorium colony could easily overcome it, but it does not. Tetramorium is very mysterious.

I’m saying there are no other ants besides the three aforementioned genera, while there should be. I’ve found Myrmica, Dolichoderus, Dorymyrmex, Leptothorax, Brachymyrmex, etc. in my yard. I can tell you right now that none of these ants would be there if Tetramorium were prevalent. They would most likely exist in your yard as well if it weren’t for Tetramorium.

[TheMicroPlanet]

That second Formica picture is probably the best photo i've ever taken.

[RushmoreAnts]

I’ve never taken a picture that good, lol.