This is a queen ant I've caught on the 31st of october. On that weekend ocurred the first rainfalls, and there were thousands of alates everywhere.I believe that this species' nuptial flight ocurred in the night between the 30th and the 31st of october.
I want to start a colony from it. Therefore, I need to know its species in order to do some research and get ready to perform that task. I would really apreciate the help of anyone who might give it to me.
1. Location of collection: Lisbon, Portugal
2. Date of collection: 31/10/2021
3.Habitat of collection: Urban (it was caught in a pavement on the street, near some grass and trees)
4. Color, hue, pattern and texture: it is a black shiny queen ant, with some grey hairs along her entire body, especially on her gaster, which is round and has two less darker stripes.
5. Distinguish characteristics: it has two petiole nodes, small eyes and some less darker/brownish leg ends.
6. Nuptial flight time and date: between the 30th and the 31st of october (during the night). Eventhough, I haven't witnessed the flight, it was on the morning of the 31st of october that the queen ants without wings started to appear, because, before that, there were only males and some very rare queen alates. Also, the number of alates in that morning clearly indicates that there had just been a nuptial flight. There were some thirteen queen ants in a three meter square area.
I will attach in this post some photos of the queen ant and of some male ants, that me and a friend of mine caught (theese are seen on a lab magnifying glass).
I really hope that this information is enough for you to identify this queen. Thank you very much.
