17 replies to this topic

[nurbs]

Went hiking on July 4th at Big Bear Lake. I found lots of interesting ants, and here is one of them. I believe it is Leptothorax. She is super small, around 3mm. I found her wandering on a tree trunk. We were hiking up to Grandview point, and the elevation was about 7500ft.

 

Antweb says there are only two species in CA: L. ca01 and L. calderoni.

 

Anyone have any knowledge of this super small ant? She has two spikes on her back. According to a google search, most Leptothorax are parasitic.

 

 

1. Location of collection: Big Bear Lake, CA

2. Date of collection: 7--4-2015

3. Habitat of collection: Mountain trail, side of mountain with oaks and evergreens and various shrubs, 7500 ft elevation

4. Length (from head to gaster): about 3mm

5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: black, dark brown

6. Distinguishing characteristics: Very small

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Edited by nurbs, July 16 2015 - 4:09 AM.

[AntsAreUs]

Leptothorax acervorum?

[dspdrew]

Looks like Temnothorax rugatulus to me.

 

Edit: Actually I don't really know. I didn't realize that the Leptothorax species we have in California look this much like Temnothorax rugatulus and T. caguatan. I'm starting to wonder about my T. caguatan now, because of their size. I hope one of the experts can set us straight.

Edited by dspdrew, July 6 2015 - 2:14 PM.

[Alza]

I agree with temnothorax. 

[LC3]

I agree with something non Leptothorax, I don't think Leptothorax posses spines and I think they're more flatter.

[nurbs]

She hasn't laid any eggs yet. I am tempted to throw her into my C. vicinus colony and see how they react.

I agree with something non Leptothorax, I don't think Leptothorax posses spines and I think they're more flatter.

 

The images of Leptothorax online have those double spines.

[kellakk]

This key  says that Temnothorax have five mandible teeth, while Leptothorax have 6.  Your picture of the face looks like it has 5 teeth on the mandible, so I would say Temnothorax.  I wouldn't trust me though since I tend to get IDs wrong. Regardless of which genus it is, nice find!

 

EDIT:  Ok, now I'm thoroughly confused.  I just looked at a face picture of Leptothorax acervorum and it has 5 teeth on the mandible.  :hmm:

Edited by kellakk, July 7 2015 - 9:39 PM.

[LC3]

Lepto and Temnothorax were once one group, plus both are small and Leptothorax isn't well known. I don't think I ever seen a Lepto queen in person 

[nurbs]

This key  says that Temnothorax have five mandible teeth, while Leptothorax have 6.  Your picture of the face looks like it has 5 teeth on the mandible, so I would say Temnothorax.  I wouldn't trust me though since I tend to get IDs wrong. Regardless of which genus it is, nice find!

 

EDIT:  Ok, now I'm thoroughly confused.  I just looked at a face picture of Leptothorax acervorum and it has 5 teeth on the mandible.  :hmm:

 

Yeah, I keep flipping back and forth on those two. If it is Lepto I wanna throw her into the C. vicinus colony haha.

[kellakk]

I know it's tough, but can you get a better shot of the face?  I think that would really help, because I'm not sure if I'm imagining the middle carina on the clypeus in your face picture.

Edited by kellakk, July 7 2015 - 10:01 PM.

[dspdrew]

If it is Temnothorax, T. caguatan and T. rugatulus are the only Temnothorax species in CA with long spines and eleven antennal segments. The only difference between the two is the length of the petiole node and the thickness of the hind femur.

[nurbs]

So it is extremely hard to get a shot of her face because she is incredibly small (less than 3mm), but here is a decent one that I took before and cropped it in closer:

 

 

Here is a paper on Temnothorax and Leptothorax:

http://actazool.nhmu...2/radchenko.pdf

 

And in that paper, here are the said differences between the two:

 

So at this point, I am leaning towards Leptothorax, but still not sure. 

 

* Do antennae segment counts start at the base or at the lower "arm"? If it starts at the lower arm, she would have only TEN antennae segments and not 11 or 12.

 

* She does not appear to have a median clypeal carina.

 

Maybe we should get the experts in here and take a look.

 

She has laid three eggs now. I am wondering if I should start a journal.

 

 

 

EDIT:

 

Looking at antweb images and many Temnothorax do not appear to have the median clypeal carina? Maybe someone can explain to me fully what this is. Maybe I am looking at the wrong thing.

Edited by nurbs, July 16 2015 - 4:15 AM.

[Jonathan21700]

 This paper is describing species from the Palearctic. So probably there will be difference from the ones in your area.

[dspdrew]

The antennal scapes (the long parts attached to the head) are counted as a segment.

 

Like I said before, this one has eleven, and all the other features match the only two Temnothorax here in CA with eleven antennal segments. Still not sure what it is though. Maybe James C. Trager can help, but I haven't seen him here in a while.

[kellakk]

I agree, this is probably Leptothorax.  The clypeus is smooth, unlike that of Temnothorax. Hard to know for sure until an expert chimes in, though.

 

Nurbs, a median clypeal carina is the middle groove that shows up on the clypeus.  All of the antweb specimens for T. rugatulus and T. caguatun have one or at least have some clypeal carinae.

[dspdrew]

Nurbs, a median clypeal carina is the middle groove that shows up on the clypeus.

 

I think it's a ridge. It is on Camponotus at least.

[Crystals]

I suspect that she will be semi-claustral and will need food every 2-3 days.

 

I once raised either a Leptothorax or a Temnothorax,she was semi-claustral and quite prone to eating her brood if hungry.

[nurbs]

I suspect that she will be semi-claustral and will need food every 2-3 days.

 

I once raised either a Leptothorax or a Temnothorax,she was semi-claustral and quite prone to eating her brood if hungry.

 

Yea, I have been feeding her freeze dried insects, honey, and sugar water. When I began to feeding her was when she started to lay eggs.