12 replies to this topic

[FSTP]

Hello,

 

Yesterday (11/4) I went to walk the dog and thought I might as well bring my anting equipment since I walk him on the same bike path I found all my other queens. Well I was lucky enough to dig up two more queens! Very happy about this since I had just lost some of my queens as you may or may not have known. Its pretty neat, as it seems there are still queens making new claustral chambers and such as these the queens I managed to catch were not very deep (perhaps 2-3" down) and their claustral overburden was rather fresh and moist looking. Which to me seemed to indicate rather recent digging activity. 

 

Here is a picture of each queen. I'm pretty sure they're Dorymyrmex bicolor as they look similar my other singular D. bicolor that was identified for me. However its hard for me to tell but they seem like they might be the slightest bit larger. Could this just be a size variation within the species? 

 

Queen ant #1

 

 

Queen ant #2

 

 

Kind regards,

Jess

 

P.S. I think on future anting endeavors I shall always bring my dog Winston. It seemed less people bothered me asking if I was ok or needed help as I assume they thought I was perhaps picking up his doggy droppings  .

Edited by FSTP, November 5 2016 - 12:01 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

Looks like Myrmecocystus, but there is no measurement or location (which needs to be included in every ID post)..

[Solenoqueen]

True, it does look like Myrmecocystus spp. Give us the location, and we'll be able to confirm.

[FSTP]

Oh no, I'm so sorry I just realized I broke about every rule for posting in this forum! My apologies. 

 

The location is Central Valley California Fresno, and size is about 7mm. I collected it off of a bike trail which has a very sandy clayish dirt with lots of small rocks and gravel. Its very hard to dig into. With very sparse vegetation, just a few small bushes here and there with a tree seemingly randomly placed I'm assuming by the city. But for the most part pretty bare. Would a picture of where I collected them help?

 

Oh geese. If they turn out to be a species within Myrmecocystus I'm going to lose my mind. That is one of my "grail" ants.

Edited by FSTP, November 5 2016 - 8:12 AM.

[Alabama Anter]

Oh no, I'm so sorry I just realized I broke about every rule for posting in this forum! My apologies.

The location is Central Valley California Fresno, and size is about 7mm. I collected it off of a bike trail which has a very sandy clayish dirt with lots of small rocks and gravel. Its very hard to dig into. With very sparse vegetation, just a few small bushes here and there with a tree seemingly randomly placed I'm assuming by the city. But for the most part pretty bare. Would a picture of where I collected them help?

Oh geese. If they turn out to be a species within Myrmecocystus I'm going to lose my mind. That is one of my "grail" ants.

Ya looks and seems like Myrmecocystus so jealous

[FSTP]

What traits is this any displaying that suggests its in the genus Myrmecocystus ? I'd just like to know so I can better understand what to look for.

[dspdrew]

Dorymyrmex insanus.

[FSTP]

Dorymyrmex insanus.

LOL, that's what I thought. Thanks guys for getting my hopes up 

[Batspiderfish]

Ahh. The head did look kinda dolichoderine to me. The eyes and mandibles made me think Myrmecocystus, although I probably should have been able to see the palps in the second picture. I guess this kinda goes to show the importance of covering different angles when making an ID request.

Edited by Batspiderfish, November 5 2016 - 6:05 PM.

[dspdrew]

Aside from the details of the pictures (as much as you can see anyway), here's my line of thinking.
 
1. If that was a Myrmecocystus, it would have to be something in the Eremnocystus subgenus based on the size and color.
 
2. The habitat in that area is grasslands and foothills. The only Myrmecocystus I ever see or hear about in those habitats here in CA, are M. testaceus, M. mimicus, and M. wheeleri. Neither of those are in the Eremnocystus subgenus.
 
3. I'm not familiar with any Myrmecocystus that would be flying right now. Dorymyrmex insanus on the other hand, flies almost year-round, every time it rains and it's not too cold afterwards.

 

BTW, If any of the experts (gcsnelling  ) know of anymore species that regularly reside in those habitats (non-desert) here in CA, I'd be interested to know what they are.

Edited by dspdrew, November 5 2016 - 10:26 PM.

[Enderz]

Aside from the details of the pictures (as much as you can see anyway), here's my line of thinking.
 
1. If that was a Myrmecocystus, it would have to be something in the Eremnocystus subgenus based on the size and color.
 
1. The habitat in that area is grasslands and foothills. The only Myrmecocystus I ever see or hear about in those habitats here in CA, are M. testaceus, M. mimicus, and M. wheeleri. Neither of those are in the Eremnocystus subgenus.
 
2. I'm not familiar with any Myrmecocystus that would be flying right now. Dorymyrmex insanus on the other hand, flies almost year-round, every time it rains and it's not too cold afterwards.
 
BTW, If any of the experts (gcsnelling  ) know of anymore species that regularly reside in those habitats (non-desert) here in CA, I'd be interested to know what they are.

drew you 1. 1. 2.

[Solenoqueen]

 

Dorymyrmex insanus.

LOL, that's what I thought. Thanks guys for getting my hopes up 

 

Hue hue hue, I felt it resembled Doromyrmex, but someone told me MYRMECOCYSTUS! People these days...

 

I just had to use text changes

Edited by Solenoqueen, November 5 2016 - 8:26 PM.

[dspdrew]

 

Aside from the details of the pictures (as much as you can see anyway), here's my line of thinking.
 
1. If that was a Myrmecocystus, it would have to be something in the Eremnocystus subgenus based on the size and color.
 
1. The habitat in that area is grasslands and foothills. The only Myrmecocystus I ever see or hear about in those habitats here in CA, are M. testaceus, M. mimicus, and M. wheeleri. Neither of those are in the Eremnocystus subgenus.
 
2. I'm not familiar with any Myrmecocystus that would be flying right now. Dorymyrmex insanus on the other hand, flies almost year-round, every time it rains and it's not too cold afterwards.
 
BTW, If any of the experts (gcsnelling  ) know of anymore species that regularly reside in those habitats (non-desert) here in CA, I'd be interested to know what they are.

drew you 1. 1. 2.

 

 

Haha oops. Too much moving stuff around in my post.