14 replies to this topic

[jushi]

I found this really interesting queen under a rock whilst looking for Tapinoma Sessile queens that flew the day before. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
Date/Location:
1. Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
2. May 16, 2020 | 5/16/20
 
Information:
1. Caught under a rock in a stone path. There was a tree and shed right next to where I caught her, as well as a mature colony of some sort.

2. May 16, 2020 | 5/16/20
3. Backyard, very close to forested area
4. Around 3 - 4 mm from antennae to gaster (extremely small)
5. Dark brown/black with orange-ish legs, slightly reflective, slightly rigid, not very smooth, bald, no visible hairs
6. Club-like antennae, orange mandibles, since the queen is extremely tiny It's hard to see any physical characteristics
7. Very active, very sensitive to light
8. There was some other workers that were under the same stone I lifted, they were the same size as the queen and looked like lasius workers. They had no brood which leads me to believe they were just workers from other colonies. 

9. I haven't seen other queens that look like her, no nuptial flights were happening.

 

 
Here is the clearest picture I was able to get of her. 

 

[Manitobant]

Myrmecina Americana. Semi claustral so needs food during the founding stage.

[RushmoreAnts]

9. I haven't seen other queens that look like her, no nuptial flights were happening.

She probably flew last year. I believe this species flies in the fall.

[jushi]

Myrmecina Americana. Semi claustral so needs food during the founding stage.

 

Thanks so much! Any tips on keeping these ants?

[Manitobant]

Myrmecina Americana. Semi claustral so needs food during the founding stage.

 
Thanks so much! Any tips on keeping these ants?

well cryptic ants in general do better with soil in their test tube. Also try and get some springtails to feed her or maybe some tiny bits of cricket.

[PurdueEntomology]

 

 

Myrmecina Americana. Semi claustral so needs food during the founding stage.

 
Thanks so much! Any tips on keeping these ants?

well cryptic ants in general do better with soil in their test tube. Also try and get some springtails to feed her or maybe some tiny bits of cricket.

 

Mine take termites that I have immolated.

[Ants_Dakota]

They do also love living in plastic tubes. They are generally hardy species that will do well anywhere.

Mine loved demolishing crickets...

[RushmoreAnts]

They do also love living in plastic tubes. They are generally hardy species that will do well anywhere.

Mine loved demolishing crickets...

This is Myrmicina americana, not Myrmica americana. Two different species in two different genera.

[VoidElecent]

 

They do also love living in plastic tubes. They are generally hardy species that will do well anywhere.

Mine loved demolishing crickets...

This is Myrmicina americana, not Myrmica americana. Two different species in two different genera.

 

 

No, this is Myrmecina americana, not Myrmicina americana. I also don't believe anyone said Myrmica americana.

[RushmoreAnts]

They do also love living in plastic tubes. They are generally hardy species that will do well anywhere.
Mine loved demolishing crickets...

This is Myrmicina americana, not Myrmica americana. Two different species in two different genera.

 
No, this is Myrmecina americana, not Myrmicina americana. I also don't believe anyone said Myrmica americana.

That’s what I meant. However, Ants_Dakota was talking about his Myrmica colony, which ‘demolishes crickets’. Though the spelling error was my bad.

[ponerinecat]

 

 

Myrmecina Americana. Semi claustral so needs food during the founding stage.

 
Thanks so much! Any tips on keeping these ants?

well cryptic ants in general do better with soil in their test tube. Also try and get some springtails to feed her or maybe some tiny bits of cricket.

 

It may be better to do away with the test tube altogether and use a petri dish or any other small flat container. Feed her dead springtails for now and mites if you can get them. Oribatid mites are probably ideal as they're slow and somewhat numerous.

[ForestDragon]

 

9. I haven't seen other queens that look like her, no nuptial flights were happening.

She probably flew last year. I believe this species flies in the fall.

 

I actually found one too this year, I believe they may have a small spring flight

[ForestDragon]

ALSO I found that they do quite well in mulch, I found several workers digging through my mulch bed, and I always find queens near that bed or in my backyard, I put the one I found in a container of mulch and she has eggs already, these are cool species

[ponerinecat]

ALSO I found that they do quite well in mulch, I found several workers digging through my mulch bed, and I always find queens near that bed or in my backyard, I put the one I found in a container of mulch and she has eggs already, these are cool species

Yes, any loose substrate that holds its shape and moisture well is best for most cryptic ants. rotting wood may be the best but is hard to keep from molding.

[jushi]

 

 

 

Myrmecina Americana. Semi claustral so needs food during the founding stage.

 
Thanks so much! Any tips on keeping these ants?

well cryptic ants in general do better with soil in their test tube. Also try and get some springtails to feed her or maybe some tiny bits of cricket.

 

It may be better to do away with the test tube altogether and use a petri dish or any other small flat container. Feed her dead springtails for now and mites if you can get them. Oribatid mites are probably ideal as they're slow and somewhat numerous.

 

 

I've had a hard time getting my hands on some mites. I've been catching springtails in the soil near where I caught her, so I'm assuming she was eating those. I gave her some and she seemed to really like them!