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Help identify this founding colony (suspected fire ants)

Started By jasonl549 , Feb 18 2022 2:37 PM

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14 replies to this topic

#1 Offline jasonl549 - Posted February 18 2022 - 2:37 PM

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I was wondering if anyone could help me identify these ants.  I couldn't get very good pictures, unfortunately.  The auto zoom on my camera wasn't cooperating.  But I zoomed in and cropped the best two pictures I had.  If I need to try to take more, I can.

 

These were caught in north Fort Worth and I suspect that they are fire ants.  But the first workers are so tiny that I am second guessing that assumption.

 

I have two of these queens that I caught in Oct and Dec last year and the first one has finally hatched some eggs.  I have a formicarium on the way and have been feeding the first one some wild dandelion seeds and honey.

 

Thanks in advance.

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#2 Offline Manitobant - Posted February 18 2022 - 2:56 PM

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Yep, those are solenopsis invicta (fire ants). The tiny workers is normal, as in all ant species the first generation workers are significantly smaller in size

Edited by Manitobant, February 18 2022 - 2:58 PM.

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My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#3 Offline jasonl549 - Posted February 18 2022 - 3:31 PM

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Yep, those are solenopsis invicta (fire ants). The tiny workers is normal, as in all ant species the first generation workers are significantly smaller in size

 

That's what I thought but I just wanted to make sure.  Thanks!


#4 Offline NicholasP - Posted February 18 2022 - 7:05 PM

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I think it's possible they're geminata. Could you get a picture of the queen please showing her from the top up?


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#5 Offline Aaron567 - Posted February 18 2022 - 8:05 PM

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Solenopsis invicta

 

Location rules out geminata.


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#6 Offline United-Ants - Posted February 18 2022 - 9:09 PM

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i agree that is  that is 100% present soleneopsis invicta  


#7 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 26 2022 - 8:54 AM

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Now wait a minute… how come no one has mentioned Solenopsis xyloni?

#8 Offline ZTYguy - Posted February 26 2022 - 9:40 AM

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Invicta. The head shape is too round for invicta.

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#9 Offline ZTYguy - Posted February 26 2022 - 9:42 AM

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Now wait a minute… how come no one has mentioned Solenopsis xyloni?


That queen is way too large and bulky for xyloni.
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Currently: Considering moving to Australia
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#10 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 26 2022 - 1:44 PM

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To be honest, not to shoot anyone down, that doesn’t say anything about it as there are genetic variations. It probably is invicta, as they are a problem in Texas.

#11 Offline ANTdrew - Posted February 26 2022 - 2:22 PM

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If Aaron says it’s invicta, it’s invicta. Case closed.
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#12 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted February 27 2022 - 5:57 AM

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Out of curiosity, is there a concrete way to differ between xyloni and invicta other than that invicta has 3 teeth, and geminata and xyloni has 2? Just asking Becuase I would like to know if one of my invicta colonies is actually xyloni.

#13 Offline OiledOlives - Posted February 28 2022 - 9:01 AM

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Out of curiosity, is there a concrete way to differ between xyloni and invicta other than that invicta has 3 teeth, and geminata and xyloni has 2? Just asking Becuase I would like to know if one of my invicta colonies is actually xyloni.

Not that I know of. You can read this thread for more information: https://www.formicul...-and-s-invicta/


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#14 Offline NicholasP - Posted March 7 2022 - 8:07 AM

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Out of curiosity, is there a concrete way to differ between xyloni and invicta other than that invicta has 3 teeth, and geminata and xyloni has 2? Just asking Becuase I would like to know if one of my invicta colonies is actually xyloni.

From what I've heard from some friends invicta has a V on the thorax that xyloni doens't. If you look closely at the picture ZTY posted you can see the redish V. I personally haven't seen invicta irl though.


Edited by NicholasP, March 7 2022 - 8:10 AM.

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#15 Offline Guest_SolenopsisKeeper_* - Posted March 7 2022 - 12:40 PM

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I (Pretty sure founding killing invicta, one queen(I do know it may be invicta monogynos strand)) have xyloni that have have /. \ It may be dependent on genes, it for now, just assume xyloni is invicta and don’t release and merge them.(To be on the safe side.
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