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Ant ID - Alexandria, VA 9-18-2020

Started By ANTdrew , Sep 19 2020 4:35 PM

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9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 19 2020 - 4:35 PM

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LocationAlexandria, VA

My brother made a terrarium a while back with soil and moss from our parents' backyard. This colony was brought into his apartment inadvertently. I was able to collect most of them along with the queen today. I think they are some kind of Nylanderia?

1. Length: Queen 5mm, workers 2mm

2. Coloration: Light red workers, queen a darker red

3. Habitat: Originally brought in from a heavily wooded backyard

4. Distinguishing characteristics: Naked brood with no cocoons, they have been surviving off his cat's food and crumbs for weeks

5. No nuptial flight

6. Nest under moss in a terrarium, they weren't very deep down in the substrate.

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#2 Offline NickAnter - Posted September 19 2020 - 4:38 PM

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LocationOrange County, California

Maybe N. flavipes.

AnthonyP163 and ANTdrew like this

Hi there! I went on a 6 month or so hiatus, in part due, and in part cause of the death of my colonies.

However, I went back to the Sierras, and restarted my collection, which is now as follows:

Aphaenogaster uinta, Camponotus vicinus, Camponotus modoc, Formica cf. aserva, Formica cf. micropthalma, Formica cf. manni, Formica subpolita, Formica cf. subaenescens, Lasius americanus, Manica invidia, Pogonomyrmex salinus, Pogonomyrmex sp. 1, Solenopsis validiuscula, & Solenopsis sp. 3 (new Sierra variant).

#3 Offline Manitobant - Posted September 19 2020 - 4:54 PM

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LocationWinnipeg, Canada

I agree with nylanderia flavipes.

ANTdrew likes this

My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 19 2020 - 5:15 PM

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LocationAlexandria, VA

So that would mean they are an invasive species?

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#5 Offline Manitobant - Posted September 19 2020 - 5:45 PM

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LocationWinnipeg, Canada

Yeah but they arent that destructive and don't pose a huge threat to the environment, sorta like tetramorium bicarinatum or brachymyrmex patagonicus.

ANTdrew likes this

#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 19 2020 - 5:53 PM

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LocationAlexandria, VA

Found this on antwiki:
“Bait preference varied among the different species, e.g., Pheidole nodus preferred tuna over honey, whereas Nylanderia flavipes similarly responded to tuna and honey.”

That’s exactly what they’ve been doing for two months in my brother’s apartment. Lol

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.