7 replies to this topic

[RushmoreAnts]

I recently caught a parasitic queen, and was wondering which of these two species this would be.

 

Location: South Dakota

Date: Captured around 5 p.m. MST on April 26th, 2020

 

Location of Collection: section of pavement

Date of Collection: Captured around 5 p.m. MST on April 26th, 2020

Habitat of Collection: Suburban environment

Length: 7 mm

Coloration: Mostly black with reddish legs

Distinguishing Characteristics: 

Anything Else Distinctive: 

Nest Description: I think we all know what a Lasius nest looks like. 

Nuptial Flight Time and Date: Presumably sometimes in either September or October of 2019

 

Photos:

 

 

 

[NickAnter]

Could you try to get some pictures with better lighting? I think it is aphidicola though.

[PurdueEntomology]

Could you try to get some pictures with better lighting? I think it is aphidicola though.

Why L. aphidicola?

[AnthonyP163]

I honestly don't think we can be sure. The Lasius speculiventris antwiki says that it is closely related to Lasius umbratus, but differs by the pubescense in the second gaster segment. Lasius umbratus is obviously now L. aphidicola in North America but I am skeptical of it being an entirely different species than speculiventris. A myrmecologist from a long time ago speculated that speculiventris was simply a subspecies of umbratus (now aphidicola). aphidicola does not even have anything on it's antwiki.  Looking at specimens of both species, aphidicola and speculiventris, I notice almost no difference. I think there might be more dense pilosity on the thorax of one of the speculiventris queens, but there's a great difference in photo quality which makes comparing difficult. One picture shows the specimen is... just over 3mm (queen, by the way.) In some keys, both or one species is not present or they are simply not compared. I thought the difference must be in the workers, but I do not see it there either. There is probably a minor difference that I am missing, but from what I have seen in research the past few weeks, the taxonomy surrounding aphidicola and closely related species is recently changed and not very known. 

 

If someone knows more about these species and can point out a difference for me and others in the future, this would be appreciated. 

 

We can definitely try to figure it out based on environment. I know that speculiventris prefer a bog or fen area, or maybe a damp forest. I'm unsure on the status of aphidicola, but considering the fact that they don't parasitize L. minutus as speculiventris does, they probably will be found in a much broader range of habitats. Your queen is likely aphidicola. 

[RushmoreAnts]

Okay, I'll just call her aphidicola.

[RushmoreAnts]

This is actually the first time I've successfully founded parasitic Lasius, so I'm pretty excited about her. 

[PurdueEntomology]

I honestly don't think we can be sure. The Lasius speculiventris antwiki says that it is closely related to Lasius umbratus, but differs by the pubescense in the second gaster segment. Lasius umbratus is obviously now L. aphidicola in North America but I am skeptical of it being an entirely different species than speculiventris. A myrmecologist from a long time ago speculated that speculiventris was simply a subspecies of umbratus (now aphidicola). aphidicola does not even have anything on it's antwiki.  Looking at specimens of both species, aphidicola and speculiventris, I notice almost no difference. I think there might be more dense pilosity on the thorax of one of the speculiventris queens, but there's a great difference in photo quality which makes comparing difficult. One picture shows the specimen is... just over 3mm (queen, by the way.) In some keys, both or one species is not present or they are simply not compared. I thought the difference must be in the workers, but I do not see it there either. There is probably a minor difference that I am missing, but from what I have seen in research the past few weeks, the taxonomy surrounding aphidicola and closely related species is recently changed and not very known. 

 

If someone knows more about these species and can point out a difference for me and others in the future, this would be appreciated. 

 

We can definitely try to figure it out based on environment. I know that speculiventris prefer a bog or fen area, or maybe a damp forest. I'm unsure on the status of aphidicola, but considering the fact that they don't parasitize L. minutus as speculiventris does, they probably will be found in a much broader range of habitats. Your queen is likely aphidicola. 

Definitely a more complicated genus  that diagnostically would require more than the types of photos offered.  Just a cursorial run through of the Antwiki taxonomic key for North American Lasius is evident enough to warrant caution on trying to identify via these general types of photos shared back and fourth.  Unless of course one is truly a Lasius expert of our North American species.  Just my two cents worth.

[PurdueEntomology]

This is actually the first time I've successfully founded parasitic Lasius, so I'm pretty excited about her. 

 

 

I honestly don't think we can be sure. The Lasius speculiventris antwiki says that it is closely related to Lasius umbratus, but differs by the pubescense in the second gaster segment. Lasius umbratus is obviously now L. aphidicola in North America but I am skeptical of it being an entirely different species than speculiventris. A myrmecologist from a long time ago speculated that speculiventris was simply a subspecies of umbratus (now aphidicola). aphidicola does not even have anything on it's antwiki.  Looking at specimens of both species, aphidicola and speculiventris, I notice almost no difference. I think there might be more dense pilosity on the thorax of one of the speculiventris queens, but there's a great difference in photo quality which makes comparing difficult. One picture shows the specimen is... just over 3mm (queen, by the way.) In some keys, both or one species is not present or they are simply not compared. I thought the difference must be in the workers, but I do not see it there either. There is probably a minor difference that I am missing, but from what I have seen in research the past few weeks, the taxonomy surrounding aphidicola and closely related species is recently changed and not very known. 

 

If someone knows more about these species and can point out a difference for me and others in the future, this would be appreciated. 

 

We can definitely try to figure it out based on environment. I know that speculiventris prefer a bog or fen area, or maybe a damp forest. I'm unsure on the status of aphidicola, but considering the fact that they don't parasitize L. minutus as speculiventris does, they probably will be found in a much broader range of habitats. Your queen is likely aphidicola. 

Definitely a more complicated genus  that diagnostically would require more than the types of photos offered.  Just a cursorial run through of the Antwiki taxonomic key for North American Lasius is evident enough to warrant caution on trying to identify via these general types of photos shared back and fourth.  Unless of course one is truly a Lasius expert of our North American species.  Just my two cents worth.

 

I don't mind having a worker or two sent to me and I could ID it down to species, just PM me....