9 replies to this topic

[PTAntFan]

1. Location of collection: Burbank, CA hillside in a public park (Cabrini Park)
2. Date of collection: 6/28/2015 9am
3. Habitat of collection: soil/grass foorhills

4. Length (from head to gaster): 4mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Amber with darker gaster
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Postpetiole.  Spiky hairs throughout.
7. Anything else distinctive: Kind of a big head.  This is a major, minors were seen also approximately half this size.  Pheidole?
8. Nest description: nondescript hole in moist soil of barren area on a grassy slope.

 

Some pics

 

 

[kellakk]

Probably Pheidole hyatti. 

[Alza]

I think solenopsis xyloni.

[Gregory2455]

Agreed with Alza again. Kellakk notice that it has no spines.

[kellakk]

And that's why I put the "probably" in there.  I spent too long looking at my P. hyatti this evening, now everything looks like them.

[dspdrew]

Looks like S. xyloni to me too. aside from no spines, those petiole nodes are just so... Solenopsis-like.

[Gregory2455]

I spent too long looking at my P. hyatti this evening, now everything looks like them.

 

I wish I had some Pheidole to look at...

 

Wait! Look at my current signature!

[James C. Trager]

Not to mention the 10-segmented antennae with two definitely larger terminal segments...characteristic of all Solenopsis.

[PTAntFan]

I didn't realize S. species were dimorphic. That's cool.

[cpman]

I didn't realize S. species were dimorphic. That's cool.

Most of the fire ants are polymorphic. They've got a large range of worker sizes, not just 2.