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Ant or termite?

Started By That_one_ant_guy , Jan 26 2021 4:05 PM

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13 replies to this topic

#1 Offline That_one_ant_guy - Posted January 26 2021 - 4:05 PM

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Hello I recently found this bug crawling on the ground. I scooped it up an put it In a test tube for a better look, but when I looked at it, it looked like a termite. Part of me thinks it's an ant but idk do any of you guys know what this is?

#2 Offline That_one_ant_guy - Posted January 26 2021 - 4:07 PM

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Here's the bug. It also shed its wings immediately after putting it in the test tube

Attached Images

  • 20210126_155930.jpg
  • 20210126_161020.jpg

Edited by That_one_ant_guy, January 26 2021 - 4:10 PM.

#3 Offline Devi - Posted January 26 2021 - 4:12 PM

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Ehhhh, not great pics.  Do you think you could get better?  I suppose it could be an ant, but I kinda doubt it...  Then again, I am not familiar with the ants in your area, and suck at IDing so take my opinion for a grain of salt. 


Edited by Devi, January 26 2021 - 4:14 PM.

#4 Offline M_Ants - Posted January 26 2021 - 4:15 PM

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Termite for sure. You need a pair to start a colony though. Otherwise they are good ant food. 


Edited by M_Ants, January 26 2021 - 4:23 PM.

Veromessor pergandei

Veromessor andrei

Crematogaster sp. 

Pogonomyrmex cf cali and rugosus

Various Pheidole

C. yogi 

https://www.youtube....FG7utFVBA/about

#5 Offline Devi - Posted January 26 2021 - 4:17 PM

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termite

Those are my suspicions as well.  The antennae look weird, and the general shape is off.  The mesosoma also looks small.  Just my opinion. 


#6 Online Zeiss - Posted January 26 2021 - 4:43 PM

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Just as M_Ants said, this is a termite.  If you don't catch a pair running together, then a single one is just good ant food.


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#7 Offline That_one_ant_guy - Posted January 26 2021 - 5:09 PM

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Oki thank you

#8 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted January 26 2021 - 5:21 PM

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Looks to be Reticulitermes.


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#9 Offline antsandmore - Posted January 27 2021 - 8:16 AM

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termite. I caught a pair, but they died:( yay juptial flights are back on track! (I think)


Ants I am keeping:

 none for now, planning on being more active this year

#10 Offline BADANT - Posted January 27 2021 - 11:23 AM

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I saw a chart years ago, that showed a simple difference between ants and termites is that ant antennae have a bend and termite queen antennae are straight. I’ve always wondered if that was true?
Interesting to learn that they have to be caught in pairs


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#11 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted January 27 2021 - 11:39 AM

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I saw a chart years ago, that showed a simple difference between ants and termites is that ant antennae have a bend and termite queen antennae are straight. I’ve always wondered if that was true?
Interesting to learn that they have to be caught in pairs


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That is true, but the easiest way to tell from a glance is termites have a fused abdomen and thorax.


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#12 Offline antsandmore - Posted January 27 2021 - 12:20 PM

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I saw a chart years ago, that showed a simple difference between ants and termites is that ant antennae have a bend and termite queen antennae are straight. I’ve always wondered if that was true?
Interesting to learn that they have to be caught in pairs


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is true, but the easiest way to tell from a glance is termites have a fused abdomen and thorax.

 

yes. This is true. I have seen termites move their antennae in a very flexible movement, and it is kind of like a string that can be moved. Ants, on the other side, have more sharply bent antennae.


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Ants I am keeping:

 none for now, planning on being more active this year

#13 Offline BADANT - Posted January 27 2021 - 1:18 PM

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@ TennesseeAnts
I saw that when I googled that species. They are easy to ID at a glance because of that, even with my old eyes...LOL


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#14 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted January 27 2021 - 1:24 PM

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@ TennesseeAnts
I saw that when I googled that species. They are easy to ID at a glance because of that, even with my old eyes...LOL


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Yeah, its pretty easy to tell, lol.


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