3 replies to this topic

[yibsi]

Okay so this ID request is slightly unique, you see I find tetramorium immigrans all over the place where I live, and I recently found this odd worker under a rock, now she doesn’t look like all the other tetramorium immigrans workers that I find everywhere else and instead looks completely different, now here is my dilemma, is this mystery worker I found tetramorium immigrans, or is all the other “tetramorium immigrans” that I keep seeing another species? I’m pretty sure they are both tetramorium sp. but I don’t think they are the same, one could be T. Immigrans, while another might be T. Tushimae (since I live in the Midwest) or something else entirely.

Mystery worker:

Midwest
Under a rock
4 millimeters
Matte Black body, not shiny at all, orange tips on legs but not antennae
Larger head in proportion to body, smaller gastor as well
Walks fast, can not climb on vertical glass
Found by itself under a rock near a pine tree, no visible nest, however was digging in the ground.
Photos #1 and #2



“Tetramorium Immigrans” or at least what I think is T. Immigrans:

Midwest, their colonies are absolutely everywhere
Found everywhere there is dirt, and sometimes even in concrete
2-3 millimeters, workers vary in size
Brown heads with red thorax and brown gastors, shiny gastors, dull everywhere else, bright yellow legs as well.
Generally neat cone shaped nests.

Photo #3

Thanks for the help!

Attached Images

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[VoidElecent]

Worker #1 could be Myrmecina americana, but 4mm sounds a bit too large. I do think #2 is Tetramorium, but I am not familiar enough with the genus to be certain that it is T. immigrans or T. tsushimae.

[Manitobant]

Could it be pheidole?

[Kaelwizard]

The Tetramorium immigrans here in MI can be pretty variable, so I wouldn't be surprised if both are that species.