12 replies to this topic

[andrea]

So, hi everyone, a few days ago i caught this ant, and I was wondering if it's a queen and what species is it.

Sorry for the quality, but my phone isn't that good.

 

Location. Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
20/09/2021
 
Body:
1. Caught her on my house balcony

2. around 17/09/2021
3. Small town with some mountains and forests around
4. lenght: 11 mm
5. i'm sorry, but I'm colorblind, so I'll attach some images

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Edited by andrea, September 20 2021 - 7:47 AM.

[NickAnter]

Crematogaster sp. We'll need location, and the other things listed in the ID format to get a better ID. Please follow the format - it is listed at the top of the ID page.

[Chickalo]

Give her a drop of honey and wait for her to drink it.  Open the test tube and place it on a stable object (desk, stool, etc).  From there turn on your phones camera and hold it a couple inches away and zoom in as far as you can.  Tap the queen on the screen for it to focus, and take a photo.  It takes some experimenting.  I take decent photos with just my iPhone SE (old kind, twice handed down).  Also list where she was caught.

[andrea]

Crematogaster sp. We'll need location, and the other things listed in the ID format to get a better ID. Please follow the format - it is listed at the top of the ID page.

sorry, i edited it

[Chickalo]

Crematogaster sp. We'll need location, and the other things listed in the ID format to get a better ID. Please follow the format - it is listed at the top of the ID page.

Not Crematogaster?  Crematogaster would also have a post petiole since it is under Myrmicinae, no? (I've never seen Crematogaster queens but I don't think they get to 11mm either actually never mind they might I don't know)

Edited by Chickalo, September 20 2021 - 7:52 AM.

[andrea]

Give her a drop of honey and wait for her to drink it.  Open the test tube and place it on a stable object (desk, stool, etc).  From there turn on your phones camera and hold it a couple inches away and zoom in as far as you can.  Tap the queen on the screen for it to focus, and take a photo.  It takes some experimenting.  I take decent photos with just my iPhone SE (old kind, twice handed down).  Also list where she was caught.

should I wait until tomorrow? don't wanna stress her out if she's a queen

[Chickalo]

 

Give her a drop of honey and wait for her to drink it.  Open the test tube and place it on a stable object (desk, stool, etc).  From there turn on your phones camera and hold it a couple inches away and zoom in as far as you can.  Tap the queen on the screen for it to focus, and take a photo.  It takes some experimenting.  I take decent photos with just my iPhone SE (old kind, twice handed down).  Also list where she was caught.

should I wait until tomorrow? don't wanna stress her out if she's a queen

 

She does so happen to be a queen, any stress would probably disappear for ants just so happen to be sugar simps

[Manitobant]

Crematogaster scutellaris queen. This is a popular species in the european antkeeping hobby that is great for beginners.

Edited by Manitobant, September 20 2021 - 9:26 AM.

[Mettcollsuss]

Yep, seconding Crematogaster scutellaris

[andrea]

 

 

Give her a drop of honey and wait for her to drink it.  Open the test tube and place it on a stable object (desk, stool, etc).  From there turn on your phones camera and hold it a couple inches away and zoom in as far as you can.  Tap the queen on the screen for it to focus, and take a photo.  It takes some experimenting.  I take decent photos with just my iPhone SE (old kind, twice handed down).  Also list where she was caught.

should I wait until tomorrow? don't wanna stress her out if she's a queen

 

She does so happen to be a queen, any stress would probably disappear for ants just so happen to be sugar simps

 

As you can see, she didn' seem interested in the honey, i don't know why

Attached Images

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Edited by andrea, September 20 2021 - 4:36 PM.

[Manitobant]

Give her a drop of honey and wait for her to drink it. Open the test tube and place it on a stable object (desk, stool, etc). From there turn on your phones camera and hold it a couple inches away and zoom in as far as you can. Tap the queen on the screen for it to focus, and take a photo. It takes some experimenting. I take decent photos with just my iPhone SE (old kind, twice handed down). Also list where she was caught.

should I wait until tomorrow? don't wanna stress her out if she's a queen

She does so happen to be a queen, any stress would probably disappear for ants just so happen to be sugar simps

As you can see, she didn' seem interested in the honey, i don't know why

she is fully claustral, so honey (or any food for that matter,) isn’t actually necessary until she gets her first workers. Also, you’re supposed to put the honey inside the tube, taking her out to feed is quite stressful.

Edited by Manitobant, September 20 2021 - 4:49 PM.

[Chickalo]

OOOOH, I'm so stupid, sorry, don't listen to me, but second on that thing Manito said about feeding her.  I mean, you can but you shouldn't do it like, regularly, I only fed queens if they are having a hard time founding.

[Kaelwizard]

Never forcefully remove the queen from her nest unless you are trying to move them to a new nest or out of danger. It is extremely stressful, and most definitely why she ignored the honey. That isn't to say she would have eaten even if you didn't move her.