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Worker Ant ID

Started By hestoncv , Jun 23 2021 12:41 PM

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7 replies to this topic

#1 Offline hestoncv - Posted June 23 2021 - 12:41 PM

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I've only been able to find fire ants in my back yard. Today I was able to find some other species, I wanted to follow it to its nest but I almost lost it so I caught it.

I live in north east Mississippi, and found it crawling around my pool. As you can see in the photos it has a head that looks similar to a praying mantis, and front legs that also resemble that. This one is about 6 mm long and I have no idea if its a minor or major. Thanks!

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#2 Offline NickAnter - Posted June 23 2021 - 12:56 PM

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LocationOrange County, California

This is an ant-mimic of some sort, not an ant.

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).

#3 Offline hestoncv - Posted June 23 2021 - 12:58 PM

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Whaaat, are you sure? that's annoying. How can you tell?

This is an ant-mimic of some sort, not an ant.

#4 Offline NickAnter - Posted June 23 2021 - 1:07 PM

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LocationOrange County, California

A: No ant in NA looks anything like this.

B:No Petiole.

C: No bent antennae.

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:

#5 Offline hestoncv - Posted June 23 2021 - 1:13 PM

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20 posts

A: No ant in NA looks anything like this.

B:No Petiole.

C: No bent antennae.

I have found a rare species! lol. Thanks for the help

#6 Offline PurdueEntomology - Posted June 23 2021 - 2:55 PM

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LocationUrbanna, Virginia

A: No ant in NA looks anything like this.

B:No Petiole.

C: No bent antennae.

I have found a rare species! lol. Thanks for the help

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelis

You may want to look here.

Edited by PurdueEntomology, June 23 2021 - 2:56 PM.

#7 Offline ponerinecat - Posted June 23 2021 - 8:32 PM

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2,650 posts

LocationCalifornia

A: No ant in NA looks anything like this.

B:No Petiole.

C: No bent antennae.

I have found a rare species! lol. Thanks for the help

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelis

You may want to look here.

Not an ichneumonid, actually. This is a drynid wasp. The weird raptorial forelegs give it away.

Robert likes this

#8 Offline hestoncv - Posted June 25 2021 - 6:40 PM

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20 posts

A: No ant in NA looks anything like this.

B:No Petiole.

C: No bent antennae.

I have found a rare species! lol. Thanks for the help

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelis

You may want to look here.

Not an ichneumonid, actually. This is a drynid wasp. The weird raptorial forelegs give it away.