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Acton, CA, ant ID


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17 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Ecan - Posted February 6 2021 - 4:29 AM

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Ant #1:Formica xerophila
Ant #2: Liometopum occidentale
Ant #3:
1. Location of collection: Acton, CA
2. Date of collection: June 14, 9:45pm
3. Habitat of collection:
4. Length: about 2-5mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:
6. Distinguishing characteristics:
7. Distinguishing behavior: some of the workers were carrying seeds.
8. Nest description: Their nest is an abandoned Veromessor andrei nest.
9. Nuptial flight time and date:

Attached Images

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Edited by Ecan, June 15 2022 - 2:09 PM.


#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted February 6 2021 - 5:30 AM

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You should provide the other info from the ID template to help folks identify your queen.
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#3 Offline Manitobant - Posted February 6 2021 - 6:35 AM

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Formica sp. I'm not an expert on cali formica so i can't take it further.
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#4 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted February 6 2021 - 8:25 AM

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Probably some sort of Formica in the fusca-group. I can't take it further without pics from different angles.


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#5 Offline NickAnter - Posted February 6 2021 - 8:48 AM

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Yes, a good, clear shot from above will allow me to narrow it down to a couple species. I already have a guess as to what this is, but I can't be sure.


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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). 


#6 Offline Ecan - Posted February 6 2021 - 9:54 AM

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Here are some more pictures

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#7 Offline Manitobant - Posted February 6 2021 - 10:01 AM

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Definitely formica. Maybe formica moki?

Edited by Manitobant, February 6 2021 - 10:02 AM.

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#8 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted February 6 2021 - 10:29 AM

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Definitely formica. Maybe formica moki?

That was my thought, but seems a bit too lanky.


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#9 Offline NickAnter - Posted February 6 2021 - 3:26 PM

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Yes, we need a clear shot from directly above. To get better lighting, shine a flashlight at a 45 degree angle to the test tube.


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). 


#10 Offline Ecan - Posted February 6 2021 - 4:41 PM

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Yes, we need a clear shot from directly above. To get better lighting, shine a flashlight at a 45 degree angle to the test tube.

Here is the clearest picture I could get

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#11 Offline Manitobant - Posted February 6 2021 - 4:50 PM

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That looks like moki to me.
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#12 Offline NickAnter - Posted February 6 2021 - 5:11 PM

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F. xerophila may be a better fit. Can't be too sure, but the habitat would make more sense.


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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). 


#13 Offline Ecan - Posted May 17 2021 - 5:10 PM

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New queen to identify.

#14 Offline ReignofRage - Posted May 17 2021 - 5:30 PM

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New queen to identify.

The circular pictures of the queen appear to be Liometopum occidentale.


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#15 Offline Kaelwizard - Posted May 18 2021 - 4:45 AM

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New queen to identify.

The circular pictures of the queen appear to be Liometopum occidentale.

 

Agreed.


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#16 Offline Ecan - Posted June 15 2022 - 2:17 PM

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I added another species to ID, I first saw these yesterday so I don't know much about their behavior.

#17 Offline Somethinghmm - Posted June 15 2022 - 3:10 PM

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I added another species to ID, I first saw these yesterday so I don't know much about their behavior.

Solenopsis amblychila or aurea


Edited by Somethinghmm, June 15 2022 - 3:11 PM.

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#18 Offline Ecan - Posted June 15 2022 - 7:18 PM

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I added another species to ID, I first saw these yesterday so I don't know much about their behavior.

Solenopsis amblychila or aurea
Thanks.

Edited by Ecan, June 15 2022 - 7:19 PM.





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