44 replies to this topic

[Myrmicinae]

I think most of the Tetramorium are underrepresented, because of their hidden way of living.

 

Here in CO, the Tetramorium cf. caespitum colonies are immense.  A CSU entomologist told me that a study (by one of his students, I believe) found individual colonies to be comprised of over 100,000 workers but typically only one queen.  In the spring, they build relatively conspicuous mound systems, although these tend not to last long.

[cpman]

However, lasius only is found in colder weather. I bet a person in Texas has never seen lasius.

 

Texas has 2 native Lasius. One is found only in the panhandle, and the other ins in the desert west.

 

Anyway, I was just near this location in Europe on a trip. I went to the Eagle's Nest, and there were some red queen ants with really large heads flying around up there. They were around 10 mm. My guess was they were parasitic Lasius. That part of Europe is awesome.

[Trailandstreet]

The fist ones are parasitic, L fuliginosus and L umbratus

[James C. Trager]

There is no reason to doubt Miles's Lasius observations from Arizona. As stated, he was in the presence of three professional myrmecologists, and just as importantly, was up in the mountains, where a temperate rather than a desert ant fauna occurs.

 

A quick look at Ant Web's Arizona Ants list 19(!) species of Lasius recorded from the state. The Ant Web Texas page records 5 species from that state. These are found only in the sparsely settled northern prairie and western mountain and high desert parts of Texas. Also, most are subterranean, so not likely to be encountered by a casual, urban observer.

 

Also, as for Lasius "everywhere" in Europe, it's similar to the US situation, with Lasius common and evident in the north and at higher elevations in the south, but generally much less evident at the lower and hotter parts in the Mediterranean Region, where a more thermophilous (heat-loving) fauna prevails.

[Ants4fun]

Interesting I had no idea Lasius was present in such hot climates. Do they still enter diapause?

[LC3]

Parasitic Lasius look like a mix between Camponotus and Lasius. XP 

What about L. Platythorax and L. aliensus sister species of L.niger ?

[Myrmicinae]

The fist ones are parasitic, L fuliginosus and L umbratus

 

 

Great diagram!  Thanks for sharing.  Do you know whether L. neglectus are continuing to expand their range?  Have they shown any invasiveness in undisturbed ecosystems?  I haven't heard much on this species for a few years.

Edited by Myrmicinae, July 1 2015 - 2:07 PM.

[cpman]

For what it is worth, the species up by the Eagle's Nest looked like the L. umbratus in that chart, only more reddish.

Edited by cpman, July 1 2015 - 2:09 PM.

[Trailandstreet]

@cpman
That's true, some near related species often look very similar.

@Myrmicinae
L neglectus is so highly invasive, because it is extremely polygyn and it tends to build supercolonies.

[Jonathan21700]

Great diagram! 

Yes, they are amazing. Here's the one for Camponotus http://antsmania.com...rance-photo.jpg and Formica http://www.lamarabun...viformicass.jpg

Edited by Jonathan21700, July 2 2015 - 2:34 AM.

[James C. Trager]

In all the southern outposts of Lasius, winter time soil temperatures are quite cool, and the ants do enter diapause, though of shorter duration than in colder climes. 

[Barristan]

Today there has been a Lasius niger nuptial flight. I collected 16 wingless queens (13 in my garden):

 

You just have to walk for few meters and you'll find another one walking around. They are really very common here in Germany.

 

I coudn't find any Tetramorium queen yet here...

 

Not all Lasius niger queens survived long enough to found a new colony. Some died shortly after landing on the hot stones. Tetramorium sp. are now feeding on the dead queens:

Edited by Barristan, July 7 2015 - 10:14 AM.

[dspdrew]

Awesome pictures.

[Ants4fun]

Actually in Europe right now for a visit. So far I have seen Lasius Niger, Aphaenogaster sp. giant Formica rufa mounds and trails (favorite ants, there where of thousands all over), and a parasitic Lasius so. Infiltrating a nest with a worker in her mandibles, trying to mask her smell.

[Jonathan21700]

Actually in Europe right now for a visit. So far I have seen Lasius Niger, Aphaenogaster sp. giant Formica rufa mounds and trails (favorite ants, there where of thousands all over), and a parasitic Lasius so. Infiltrating a nest with a worker in her mandibles, trying to mask her smell

 

Are you sure about the Aphenogaster sp? Were they found in Southern Europe?

[Diffeomorphismus]

You can also find Aphaenogaster in Northern Europe. For example A. subterranea in Germany.

[Jonathan21700]

Yes but they are not very common or maybe not commonly encountered as they are subterranean.

Edited by Jonathan21700, July 22 2015 - 10:58 AM.

[Trailandstreet]

Maybe these "Aphaenogaster" are Myrmica sp. There are several species of these and they are very common. Some look a bit more like Aphaenogaster.

 

Edit:

Yes, at this time, a lot of Lasius are flying, also the parasitic ones like Lasius umbratus.

Edited by Trailandstreet, July 23 2015 - 4:30 AM.

[Ants4fun]

I'm pretty sure they where aphaenogaster. I saw Myrmica as well. I am in Estonia.

[Diffeomorphismus]

AntWiki says that there are no Aphaenogaster species in Estonia: http://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Estonia