15 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Alexandria, VA
2. Date of collection: 6/28/ 2021
3. Habitat of collection: Native plant garden in an urban area bordering woods.
4. Length (from head to gaster): 7-8mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Reddish hue, somewhat smooth
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 
7. Distinguishing behavior: Landed on blacklight sheet at the break of dawn, several males were also found
8. Nest description: N/A

9. Nuptial flight time and date: Some time prior to 5:45am

 

I decided against triple or quadruple posting this.

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Edited by ANTdrew, June 28 2021 - 6:46 AM.

[PetsNotPests]

She looks like Aphaenogaster to me, but those clubbed antennae throw me off. Although they aren't native, she reminds me of Solenopsis Fugax. 

[Kaelwizard]

She looks like Aphaenogaster to me, but those clubbed antennae throw me off. Although they aren't native, she reminds me of Solenopsis Fugax. 

Aphaenogaster antennae do look like the one pictured. It looks very similar to the A. cf. rufa I found last year. If I understand correctly from what AntWiki says, Aphaenogaster can have a small antennal club.

Edited by Kaelwizard, June 28 2021 - 7:00 AM.

[PetsNotPests]

 

She looks like Aphaenogaster to me, but those clubbed antennae throw me off. Although they aren't native, she reminds me of Solenopsis Fugax. 

Aphaenogaster antennae do look like the one pictured. It looks very similar to the A. cf. rufa I found last year.

 

Just suggesting that she looked like S. Fugax.

Edited by PetsNotPests, June 28 2021 - 7:00 AM.

[Kaelwizard]

 

 

She looks like Aphaenogaster to me, but those clubbed antennae throw me off. Although they aren't native, she reminds me of Solenopsis Fugax. 

Aphaenogaster antennae do look like the one pictured. It looks very similar to the A. cf. rufa I found last year.

 

Just suggesting that she looked like S. Fugax.

 

Considering that S. fugax live don't live close to Virginia, while 11 Aphaenogaster species do, I would guess she is Aphaenogaster.

Edited by Kaelwizard, June 28 2021 - 7:03 AM.

[PetsNotPests]

 

 

 

She looks like Aphaenogaster to me, but those clubbed antennae throw me off. Although they aren't native, she reminds me of Solenopsis Fugax. 

Aphaenogaster antennae do look like the one pictured. It looks very similar to the A. cf. rufa I found last year.

 

Just suggesting that she looked like S. Fugax.

 

Considering that S. fugax live don't live close to Virginia, while 11 Aphaenogaster species do, I would guess she is Aphaenogaster.

 

That would be my guess as well. 

[TennesseeAnts]

Hard to tell, but looks like either A. rudis or A. picea. 

[ANTdrew]

I’ll try to get better photos. I traded in my crappy iPhone 5 today.

[Manitobant]

Weird that aphaenogaster would be flying this early.

[TennesseeAnts]

Weird that aphaenogaster would be flying this early.

Not at all, they start flying around mid/late June around here.

[AntBoi3030]

I found some queens in may under rocks with zero brood so I assume they were new.

[ANTdrew]

Here are a few more photos if we can narrow this down.

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[OiledOlives]

rudis/carolinensis imo

[ANTdrew]

Here are some worker photos of this queen. I wonder if they will help narrow it down?

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[m99]

Ah! I thought this thread was from today and was like we caught the same eastern swarm cool.

 

Now that I've seen all the pictures (and the timestamp lol) obviously that's not true, and also your girl seems to be a lot lighter/browner than mine (posted another ID thread here: https://www.formicul...p-confirmation/ )

 

I wonder if that helps make it more likely that you've got rudis or carolinesis and I've got picea, since we're in neighboring climate zones sharing populations.

 

[OiledOlives]

Here are some worker photos of this queen. I wonder if they will help narrow it down?

This is most likely N22A (rudis).
 

 

Ah! I thought this thread was from today and was like we caught the same eastern swarm cool.

 

Now that I've seen all the pictures (and the timestamp lol) obviously that's not true, and also your girl seems to be a lot lighter/browner than mine (posted another ID thread here: https://www.formicul...p-confirmation/ )

 

I wonder if that helps make it more likely that you've got rudis or carolinesis and I've got picea, since we're in neighboring climate zones sharing populations.

 

This is picea.