9 replies to this topic

[BroJack]

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Tucson, AZ, S Mission Rd.
2. Date of collection: 7-24-20
3. Habitat of collection: desert roadside
4. Length (from head to gaster): 11-12mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: brown/red throughout Forward gaster lighter red moving to dark.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Relatively long/spindly legs
7. Distinguishing behavior: No nesting behavior observed. Just moving along on side of road.
8. Nest description:

9. Nuptial flight time and date: morning after first real monsoon rains of the season 7-24-20

 

Questions:

ID?

fully claustral or semi?

Is there anything else I should be posting or asking?

Can I use regular test tube set-ups for these ladies?

[Zeiss]

Most likely Novomessor cockerelli.

 

They're fully claustral and should be fine in a tube.

[M_Ants]

You might want to add sand.

[ponerinecat]

honestly looks a little bulky for novomessor cockerelli and novomessor in general, but there's nothing else it could be except that genus.

[VoidElecent]

Myrmecosustus, Acromyrmex, and Novomessor in one day? Doesn't get much better than this—I'd give an arm and a leg for N. cockerelli.

[gcsnelling]

Yup, Novomessor. Its that time of the year in that part of the country.

[TechAnt]

I'd give a lot for all those queens if I were in the same state.

[BroJack]

I have over 50 of these so far and if you are in AZ, I am willing to trade for knowledge and coaching. I've been doing this seriously for 3 years and am still very much a beginner. I have only had my own success with Camponotus so far.

I have passed up several of these queens while out hunting because I have so many. I never imagined myself in a position of passing up queens.

[RushmoreAnts]

I wonder if these are polygynous. If so, you could keep them in groups. If no one here knows, you could just try putting two together, since you have so many.

[Zeiss]

I wouldn't keep them together.  I do not believe they are polygynous.