9 replies to this topic

[AntsMAN]

I have what I believe to be a Formica fusca, and Neoniger queen please comfirm, as I am by no means a pro yet.
The ants I believe to be Lasius niger were caught in Nova Scotia, about 200 metres from the shore line near my garden in late August. The Queen is shiny black half an inch long, the workers are about 1/2 the lenght of the queen.
Same for the neoniger Queens I caught them the same time around the same area, They are a little smaller Queen being less than 1/2 inch long and the worker being very tiny. They are a reddish brown, and can be seen in the link below.
The carpenter ant queen now has 12 workers and lots of eggs and larve, I put her in a tarheel ants talus formicarium, Will add more pictures soon as possible.


Lasius Neoniger




Formica fusca



Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Edited by AntsMAN, June 24 2015 - 9:34 AM.

[Crystals]

There are several species of Lasius out east.  Lasius neoniger is very common.  Lasius niger is rare, as it is more of a hitchhiker from Europe.

 

Other possibilities are Lasius alienus which are supposedly to be quite common along the east coast whereever it snows. Other possibilities include a number of species (usually parasitic) with a brown queen and yellow workers such as Lasius umbratus and Lasius flavus.  Probably more species out there as well.

 

As for the pictures, I need better ones of that second queen.  Lasius nanitics are almost never half the size of the queen.

[AntsMAN]

I'm thinking the Neoniger may be Nylanderia fulva(crazy ants) as she is more of a shinny red. The niger is all shinny black, legs included I can't seem to find any other ant that fits her discription, they are scared very easily.

I have better pictures by the end of the day.

[Ants4fun]

I don't believe that you have crazy ants in your area. Most likely lasius. The second ant looks like formica, possible fusca.

[Jonathan21700]

The second one is a Formica sp.

[AntsMAN]

Formica fusca

 

 

 

Lasius neoniger

 

Edited by AntsMAN, June 24 2015 - 9:33 AM.

[AntsMAN]

         Camponotus herculeanus

Edited by AntsMAN, June 24 2015 - 9:31 AM.

[Alza]

A lot of people say that IDING should not be done by color. Although, I've found that color gets you far in the desert areas(with determining species within a genus), I'm not so sure about canada. But I am sure (100%) that color does not change the genus of the ant. I agree with your first guess, something in the Lasius genus. Also beware of size.

[LC3]

First picture looks like a Lasius sp. and the second picture looks like a Formica sp. I think the second picture may be a Formica sp. in the fusca group, as for the Lasius I don't know since (to me at least) they all seem very similar to each other.

The third picture is indeed a Camponotus sp. but because of its red thorax I don't think its C.pennsylvanicus might be C. novabrocensus since they live in the east but I'm not sure. 

[AntsMAN]

I have come to the conclusion with the help of you guys and a little research.

 

I believe I have Lasius neoniger, Camponotus herculeanus, and Formica Fusca. If anyone has any objections please let me know as these will be the names I add to my photos.