18 replies to this topic

[Wamdar]

1. Location of collection: Simi Valley, Ca
2. Date of collection: 5-13
3. Habitat of collection: open field, rocky dirt
4. Length (from head to gaster): approx 4-5mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: red head and thorax, black gaster
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Fast, very aggressive. Shallow nest

 

 

Attached Images

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[Ants4fun]

Solenopsis sp. Most likely invicta or xyloni

Edited by Ants4fun, May 13 2015 - 12:51 PM.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, I would say that is S. xyloni.

[Alza]

Solenopsis xyloni. 

Some ants can be based off color Id's, this being one of them.

[cpman]

Solenopsis xyloni.

Some ants can be based off color Id's, this being one of them.

That's just blatantly false. I do agree with the ID in this case due to locality, but there is no way to tell the difference between S. xyloni and S. invicta due to just color. Yes there are some general coloration differences, but try aren't reliable.

[Foogoo]

Why are they stockpiling rice??

 

There's a large colony which looks exactly like that near me. See any alates?

[Wamdar]

I did, a few poked out of the hole as I was looking around, they were not flying though. I had just disrupted their day and they were rambling about. Probably after this storm, they will fly!

[Jonathan21700]

I agree on Solenopsis xyloni or invicta.

[James C. Trager]

If the color in the picture is true to life, I'm comfortable saying these are S. xyloni.

S. invicta are a little darker and browner.

[dspdrew]

I've noticed now in all the S. xyloni and S. invicta queens I've had, the S. invicta have always been a little bigger.

[gcsnelling]

I agree S. xyloni.

Edited by gcsnelling, May 14 2015 - 5:20 PM.

[Wamdar]

Thanks again you guys! 

[dspdrew]

I would say this could be marked solved haha.

[Alza]

If the color in the picture is true to life, I'm comfortable saying these are S. xyloni.

S. invicta are a little darker and browner.

The colors look nothing alike in real life. You would be able to distinguish them as easy as red and black if you've seen them enough @cpman

Also, Invicta is also common in simi valley.

[Alza]

and i was supporting your post, which is why i quoted it. It was a response to cpman. 

[dspdrew]

 

If the color in the picture is true to life, I'm comfortable saying these are S. xyloni.

S. invicta are a little darker and browner.

The colors look nothing alike in real life. You would be able to distinguish them as easy as red and black if you've seen them enough @cpman

Also, Invicta is also common in simi valley.

 

 

They can vary in color, and sometimes do look a little more similar than usual.

[gcsnelling]

This is actually a quite variable ant. I have seen this species in a wide range of colors. As has been said over and over color is about the worst guide to making an Id there is.

[123LordOfAnts123]

As for positive IDing I'd trust color the least when it comes to Solenopsis - or most ants for that matter. S. geminata, a normally light red to bicolor Solenopsis species, comes in a completely black color form in my vicinity. This color, along with their polymorphism similar to Pheidole, lead me to believe they were just that when I first encountered them. That was until I received a few hundred stings simultaneously.

 

Of course that's not to say color can't give you a pretty good idea as to what you're dealing with.

Edited by 123Lord Of Ants123, May 16 2015 - 9:49 AM.

[Alza]

Without a closer picture, your forced into using other methods, and color being the easiest to distinguish. I caught solenopsis invicta workers yesterday, and they have a much darker variation in this area, which isn't even that far from simi valley. Probably 20 minutes, which is why I'm judging by color.