18 replies to this topic

[Gregory2455]

1. Location of collection: Simi Valley, CA
2. Date of collection: 7/11/15
3. Habitat of collection: Found in a pool, suburbs.
4. Length (from head to gaster): Only 3mm.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Black, or dark brown.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: No visible spines. Belongs to subfamily Myrmicinae.

 

[Gregory2455]

I think it is the same thing as this:
http://www.formicult...uez-rocks-park/
Or maybe a small Solenopsis molesta like species queen.

[AntsAreUs]

Measurements?

[kellakk]

Is it Monomorium? In your pictures I can't count antennal segments to know if it's Solenopsis.

[LC3]

Is it Monomorium? In your pictures I can't count antennal segments to know if it's Solenopsis.

12 segments in total (whole antenae), 7 tiny ones, 2 (maybe 3) for the club, 2 at the bend, I'm just assuming the part before the antenae bends is just all one segment. That's what I see at least.

Edited by LC3, July 13 2015 - 9:56 AM.

[dspdrew]

I had some Monomorium queens once that were different sizes. One was about this small.

[Gregory2455]

Measurements?

Ummmmm. It is in the original post. From head to gaster she is only 3mm, maybe a bit larger. I would like to ask PTAntFan if the ones he has here are leaning towards 3mm in length or 5mm, as he said those were 4mm.

[Gregory2455]

Is it Monomorium? In your pictures I can't count antennal segments to know if it's Solenopsis.

I will get better images of the antennae.

[kellakk]

Looking back at it again, I can see the 3-segmented antennal club and it definitely has more than 10 antennal segments, so I stand by my initial guess.

[Gregory2455]

Looking back at it again, I can see the 3-segmented antennal club and it definitely has more than 10 antennal segments, so I stand by my initial guess.

I thought Momonorium do not participate in mating flights?

[Gregory2455]

James C. Trager, do Monomorium ergatogyna take part in mating flights?

[kellakk]

I have a paper on M. minimum mating success that describes the queens flying before calling for males, so Monomorium definitely fly.  M. ergatogyna queens don't fly, that's why they have that species name (it means something along the lines of "worker-queen").

[LC3]

Working queen or Queenly worker?

[Gregory2455]

Well this is not Monomorium then because she was obviously flying. Unless there is Monomorium minimum in California, which I do not know of.

[kellakk]

I have a paper on M. minimum mating success that describes the queens flying before calling for males, so Monomorium definitely fly.  M. ergatogyna queens don't fly, that's why they have that species name (it means something along the lines of "worker-queen").

[Gregory2455]

 

I have a paper on M. minimum mating success that describes the queens flying before calling for males, so Monomorium definitely fly.  M. ergatogyna queens don't fly, that's why they have that species name (it means something along the lines of "worker-queen").

 

?

[Formik]

A worker-like queen.

[kellakk]

We have Monomorium minimum in California, according to AntWeb.  It doesn't show up when you look through the genus from the California view, but there is at least one record of it near Santa Barbara.

[Gregory2455]

We have Monomorium minimum in California, according to AntWeb.  It doesn't show up when you look through the genus from the California view, but there is at least one record of it near Santa Barbara.

Weird. I certainly would not mind it being that, the other queen that I caught is alive and well and hopefully makes some workers.