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Major ant - Phoenix AZ - 7/3/2020


Best Answer YsTheAnt , July 3 2020 - 11:46 PM

The distinct coloration and lack of hairs on the majority of the head, as well as the relatively flat thorax make me think that this is Camponotus sayi. Nice find! Go to the full post


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#1 Offline Luke_in_AZ - Posted July 3 2020 - 7:43 PM

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This is a major from an ant colony found under the bark of a mesquite tree.  There were also a lot of minors.  I'm hoping that I can find the queens as soon as it rains.  Thanks for your input!

 

1. Location (on a map) of collection: 

Gilbert, Arizona

2. Date of collection: 

June 2020

3. Habitat of collection: 

Sonoran Desert - Phoenix

4. Length (from head to gaster):

About 9mm

7. Distinguishing behavior:

Very docile.  Mostly calm ant. 

8. Nest description: 

Underneath bark of Mesquite tree

 

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#2 Offline rcbuggy88 - Posted July 3 2020 - 8:28 PM

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Some sort of Camponotus sp. I'm a newbie for identification so I don't know the speceis.


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My Shop     :D  :iamsohappy:  :dance3:  :yahoo:

Currently Keeping: Camponotus clarithorax, Camponotus hyatti, Tetramorium immigransNylanderia vividula, Liometopum occidentaleCamponotus modoc, Zootermopsis sp.

Wanted: Acromyrmex versicolor, Myrmecocystus sp., Camponotus us-ca02 (vibrant red not dull orange), Prenolepis imparis, Anything else I don't have lol...

Kept Before: Solenopsis molesta, Prenolepis imparis (still got one, but infertile)


#3 Offline TechAnt - Posted July 3 2020 - 11:09 PM

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Yeah, looks like a Campontous major for sure.
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My Ants:
(x1) Campontous semitstaceus ~20 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Camponotus vicinus ~10 workers, 1 Queen (all black variety)
(x1) Tetramorium immigrans ~100 workers, 1 Queen
(x1) Myrmercocystus mexicanus -1 Queen
(x2) Mymercocystus mimcus -1 Queen
(x1) Mymercocystus testaceus ~45 workers, 1 Queen

#4 Offline YsTheAnt - Posted July 3 2020 - 11:46 PM   Best Answer

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The distinct coloration and lack of hairs on the majority of the head, as well as the relatively flat thorax make me think that this is Camponotus sayi. Nice find!
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#5 Offline FSTP - Posted July 4 2020 - 12:04 AM

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What a nice ant being "very docile, mostly calm ant". She must just be very relaxed and is glad she is a major and not a minor, Majors get to be lazy and just sit around doing nothing all day.


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#6 Offline Aaron567 - Posted July 4 2020 - 7:05 AM

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Yeah, looks like Camponotus sayi. They're nearly identical to C. decipiens except they're more commonly found in western desert areas.


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#7 Offline Luke_in_AZ - Posted July 4 2020 - 7:34 AM

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Nice, thank you!

#8 Offline Froggy - Posted July 4 2020 - 8:44 AM

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Actually I think I found a similar looking queen to this species, I'll make an ID for it


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#9 Offline Luke_in_AZ - Posted July 4 2020 - 11:28 AM

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Actually I think I found a similar looking queen to this species, I'll make an ID for it


Looks the same to my untrained eye!
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#10 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted July 4 2020 - 1:48 PM

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Is this a Myrmentoma? (a subgenus of Camponotus)


"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis


#11 Offline Aaron567 - Posted July 4 2020 - 2:10 PM

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Is this a Myrmentoma? (a subgenus of Camponotus)

 

Yes, they are.


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