5 replies to this topic

[GiannisF77]

Hello everyone!

 

[EDIT: Thanks to the members of the forum, it seems like it is a Cataglyphis sp., probably a Cataglyphis nodus. Thanks to everyone involved!]

 

I found a couple dozen of these workers roaming around on the asphalt in a small village, a very rural place. They are quite large and I would like to know what kind of spieces they, and especialy when their nuptial flights occur. I found them yesterday (25th April 2021) at around 13:00. The photo is... mediocre at best so I tried to list as many features as I can (note that the length measurements may have higher error as I took the measurements with it being in the tube):

 

Finding Information:

       Location:   Greece, Chalkidiki, Kassandria

 Environment:   Very rural (Edge of village)

        Time and Date:   13:00 on 25th April 2021

Weather Conditions:   Sunny after a couple of rainy days, ~17 °C/ 64°F, ~65-70 RH

Body dimentions:

Body length (gaster to head): 12.5 ± 0.5 mm

     Gaster width:   2.5 ± 0.5 mm

       Head width:   3.5 ± 0.5 mm

         Hind legs length:    15 ± 1 mm

      Middle legs length:    13 ± 1 mm

        Front legs length:    11 ± 2 mm

  Antena lenght:      7 ± 1 mm

Other Characteristics:

                 Number of nodes:      1

                                  Colour:      Brown with black gaster.

                                Surface:      Smooth with very few tiny hairs on gaster and mouth.

If I missed any info you would like to know, I would be more than glad to provide it. Thank you in advance everyone, wish you a great ant hunting season!

 

John

Edited by GiannisF77, May 11 2021 - 3:28 AM.

[Zeiss]

I have not done much research into it yet, but I want to guess this is Cataglyphis nodus based off of immediate appearance.  

 

By the way, thank you for a very informative ID request!  I wish everyone took the time to be as detailed as possible with their requests!

Edited by Zeiss, April 26 2021 - 12:56 AM.

[GiannisF77]

I have not done much research into it yet, but I want to guess this is Cataglyphis nodus based off of immediate appearance.  

 

Wow, I think that was actually a very good guess! I searched for videos of these ants online and in my amature eyes they exhibit almost the same behavior (frantic/abrupt/ lively movement), and the appearence is closer than any other species I found online! You really saved me tons of time, I guessed it could be some sort of Camponotus and had already spent an hour going through the countless Camponotus species. Nothing I found was even close to your guess! They seem to fly around the middle of the summer, so that's kind of a downer, as I will leave in a couple of weeks...

[GiannisF77]

On Antweb, all the Cataglyphis species in my region seem to be the nodus species. Upon further reasearch on AntWikis Key to Cataglyphis species groups, I think could also be a Cataglyphis albicans, but that is les likely accorrding to the map stats...

[Manitobant]

It’s definitely cataglyphis of some kind.

[TennesseeAnts]

I agree with Zeiss, Cataglyphis nodus.