22 replies to this topic

[nurbs]

Location: Big Pine Trail, CA

Date: 6-27-2020

Habitat: Sierra Nevada Mountain range, 9000-10,000ft of elevation

Length: ~12mm

Coloring: Bright orange gaster with darker striations, darker orange/brown head and thorad 

Distinguishing characteristics: Thorax coloring as well as gaster initially reads as a Myrmecoystus

 

VIDEO can be found on Instagram:

https://www.instagra...g_web_copy_link

 

For the first time in nearly ten years of hardcore anting, found something in California that I could not positively ID. This beautiful bright orange queen was found at Big Pine trails up 10,000 ft of elevation in the California sierra nevada mountain range. I’ve included pics of the environment. She’s in the Formicinae subfamily. At first thought she was a Myrmecocystus because her coloring, but her maxillary palps said otherwise. She is about 12mm, maybe 14mm because her gaster seems swollen. Her size and coloring is throwing me off. Believe she is some species of Formica and not Camponotus as there is no space between her scapes and clypeus. 

 

Her coloring is absolutely beautiful and fascinating. Never seen a formica with these markings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TechAnt]

Wow. I have no idea either. Looks unlike anything I have seen. 

 

(Could be a new species, but I doubt it)

[Antkid12]

She looks so cool!

[VoidElecent]

Strikes me as Myrmecocystus at first glance as well, but head shape and non-protruding eyes point to Formica (not to mention maxillary palp, as you have stated). That shade of yellow reminds me of the F. pallidefulva queens I've seen down south, but the remainder of that coloration is peculiar at best, if not alarming. Maybe it's a hybrid, like some Myrmica spp. Regardless, document everything.

 

Looks like an absolutely stunning location for anting, by the way. I wish I lived in California!

[Manitobant]

Could it be undescribed? Nothing looks like that

[NickAnter]

I wonder if this could be a strange morph of F. subpolita.

[gcsnelling]

If/when she dies be sure to preserve in  good quality alcohol, not rubbing. Then send her to a qualified specialist.

[ponerinecat]

Such a beautiful specimen.

[BitT]

Wish I could help but mostly here to say she's gorgeous and I hope you plan on keeping a journal on her with us! I'd love to see what her workers look like.

[RushmoreAnts]

 Maybe it's a hybrid, like some Myrmica spp. 

 

 

Interesting........ although I don't see any Myrmicinae features on her. She looks completely Formicinae to me.

[ponerinecat]

 

 Maybe it's a hybrid, like some Myrmica spp. 

 

 

Interesting........ although I don't see any Myrmicinae features on her. She looks completely Formicinae to me.

 

Yeah no myrmica and formica arent gonna hybridize, I thinkt hey meant it could be a hybrid between 2 formica species like how myrmica can hybridize.

[BitT]

https://mississippie..._americanus.htm

https://www.antwiki....otus_americanus

 

Just a totally amateur don't know what I'm doing throw out there. But I got curious and tried to peek around.

 

Edit: I know it says SouthEastern but on the map it says there is some unconfirmed cases. So, IDK.

Edited by BitT, July 2 2020 - 4:57 PM.

[RushmoreAnts]

Maybe it's a hybrid, like some Myrmica spp.

 
 
Interesting........ although I don't see any Myrmicinae features on her. She looks completely Formicinae to me.

Yeah no myrmica and formica arent gonna hybridize, I thinkt hey meant it could be a hybrid between 2 formica species like how myrmica can hybridize.

Oh, ok. Must’ve read it wrong.

[nurbs]

https://mississippie..._americanus.htm

https://www.antwiki....otus_americanus

 

Just a totally amateur don't know what I'm doing throw out there. But I got curious and tried to peek around.

 

Edit: I know it says SouthEastern but on the map it says there is some unconfirmed cases. So, IDK.

 

 

Those are Camponotus, this is Formica.

[dspdrew]

Oh I need one of those.   Not too sure about that hike though.

[NickAnter]

Have these founded colonies by now? If so, how are they doing?

[BugFinder]

 

Location: Big Pine Trail, CA

Date: 6-27-2020

Habitat: Sierra Nevada Mountain range, 9000-10,000ft of elevation

Length: ~12mm

Coloring: Bright orange gaster with darker striations, darker orange/brown head and thorad 

Distinguishing characteristics: Thorax coloring as well as gaster initially reads as a Myrmecoystus

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love being up there!  It's so beautiful!   I'm hoping to buy a small tent trailer so I can take some weekend trips to more exotic places and can do some anting in more attractive surroundings than the parks that are around me.

[nurbs]

 

 

Location: Big Pine Trail, CA

Date: 6-27-2020

Habitat: Sierra Nevada Mountain range, 9000-10,000ft of elevation

Length: ~12mm

Coloring: Bright orange gaster with darker striations, darker orange/brown head and thorad 

Distinguishing characteristics: Thorax coloring as well as gaster initially reads as a Myrmecoystus

 

 

 

 

 

I love being up there!  It's so beautiful!   I'm hoping to buy a small tent trailer so I can take some weekend trips to more exotic places and can do some anting in more attractive surroundings than the parks that are around me.

 

 

Oh man, no kidding. That part of the country is my favorite. I hike and camp up there several times a year.

[nurbs]

Have these founded colonies by now? If so, how are they doing?

 

 

No, she died. Body preserved in alcohol, will get her imaged when Covid is over.

 

Going back up there again this year and will hopefully find more. There is an observation on iNaturalist found in the exact same trail I found this one, also from last year, so hopeful they aren't terribly hard to find.

[NickAnter]

There seem to be similar ones in the San Bernadino mountains. https://www.inatural...ations/29588113

That isn't it, however, a user on here found ones that were identical to yours in a similar location. My guess is that they are indeed subpolita, as they seem to be in incredibly variable species.