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Troy, MO 04/16/22 Help With Parasitic Tenmnothorax


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#1 Offline antgallery - Posted April 16 2022 - 2:11 PM

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Yesterday I was out searching for Acorn ant colonies and came across a good size one, I cracked open the acorn and found about 100 or so Temnothorax or Ambiguus workers and about 10 workers of a different species. I cracked open the acorn further which revealed an impressive amount of brood and the queen of the black workers, she is almost exactly the same as her workers but small wing scars are clearly visible. The reason I believe these are parasitic is 1. I have never heard of two different species of Temnothorax living peacefully in the same acorn. 2. I have yet to see a queen for the Temnothorax Curvispinosus/Ambiguus colony. And 3. The Black queen is about the same size as her workers which, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe is common in parasitic species. Below is a picture of the colony and a picture of one of the black workers, I wasn't able to get a picture of the queen.

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If anyone can give me an ID it would be greatly appreciated. Also I researched before making this post to try and figure it out myself but I was unable to find any Parasitic Temnothorax in Missouri.


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#2 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted April 16 2022 - 2:15 PM

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If I'm not mistaken, that appears to be Temnothorax americanus.


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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis


#3 Offline Manitobant - Posted April 16 2022 - 2:59 PM

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That is a temnothorax americanus colony, very nice find! This species is a slave maker, meaning you will have to constantly supply your colony with host temnothorax curvispinosus/ambiguus brood.
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#4 Offline antgallery - Posted April 16 2022 - 3:06 PM

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Wow! Thank's for the ID guys!


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