1666 replies to this topic

[nurbs]

Is this a queen or just a very large ant?

 

That's a major worker. Most likely C. sansabeanus (I have a colony of these) or C. semitaceous. It could also be C. ocreatus but according to Drew they are quite large (like 18mm).

 

The park closes the gate at 8pm, but the best time to looks for these guys is at night when they come out with a headlamp. That is what I did and found a lot of them.

Edited by nurbs, March 10 2017 - 12:25 PM.

[SoySauce]

I also just found this one. I don't know if it's a queen but when I dug it up in its chamber, there were literally 3 smaller black ants pulling it's limbs. It look like they were attacking it and it was very happy when I got the ants off its legs.




Ok thank you for all the ID's!

[nurbs]

I also just found this one. I don't know if it's a queen but when I dug it up in its chamber, there were literally 3 smaller black ants pulling it's limbs. It look like they were attacking it and it was very happy when I got the ants off its legs.




Ok thank you for all the ID's!

 

Dorymyrmex bicolor. Super small, found a lot these but had no interest in keeping so many.

[SoySauce]

So it's a queen?

[nurbs]

Oh yes

 

EDIT: well, need better pics, but if she was alone and other ants were attacking her, most likely 

Edited by nurbs, March 10 2017 - 12:33 PM.

[SoySauce]

Awesome! Thank you!

[nurbs]

There are lots of Oaks there. Look on the trunk and branches and see if you spot any large black Camponotus (similar to the C. sansabeanus you found but a tad larger and all black). 

[SoySauce]

OMG!

[nurbs]

OMG!

 

Nice! Yeah I found a handful of those last night.

[SoySauce]

I just found 3 of them. They have built founding chambers into the side of the cliff on the trails.

[Cindy]

OMG!

Woah, super beautiful coloration on that queen. Definitely Camponotus sansabeanus!

[SoySauce]

Awesome! Thanks for the ID. There's a beautiful waterfall here now too with all that rain we've gotten.

[SoySauce]

There are lots of Oaks there. Look on the trunk and branches and see if you spot any large black Camponotus (similar to the C. sansabeanus you found but a tad larger and all black).

There are lots of Oaks there. Look on the trunk and branches and see if you spot any large black Camponotus (similar to the C. sansabeanus you found but a tad larger and all black).

Thanks for the tip. I haven't seen any black Camponotus yet and I've been looking all over the trees and pulling off the dead bark. Although I suspect all those black dead drones are the male Camponotus?

[Alabama Anter]

Very large ant.

[Aaron567]

Is this a queen or just a very large ant?

 

 

A very large worker.

[nurbs]

 

There are lots of Oaks there. Look on the trunk and branches and see if you spot any large black Camponotus (similar to the C. sansabeanus you found but a tad larger and all black).

There are lots of Oaks there. Look on the trunk and branches and see if you spot any large black Camponotus (similar to the C. sansabeanus you found but a tad larger and all black).

Thanks for the tip. I haven't seen any black Camponotus yet and I've been looking all over the trees and pulling off the dead bark. Although I suspect all those black dead drones are the male Camponotus?

 

 

Yup. You are correct.

[SoySauce]

Oh man. So I didn't see any of the black Campantus queens at all today. I found 4 of the other ones tho. It makes me want to go back and look for the black ones too!

[dspdrew]

Species: Dorymyrmex bicolor, Myrmecocystus mimicus

Location: Altadena, California

Date: 3-10-2017

Time: 12:00 PM

Temperature: 80 F

Humidity:

Wind:

Rain: Recent rain.

 

Species: Camponotus clarithorax, Camponotus quercicola, Camponotus sp., Camponotus vicinus

Location: Altadena, California

Date: 3-10-2017

Time: 10:00 PM

Temperature: 70 F

Humidity:

Wind:

Rain: Recent rain.

[dspdrew]

 

I just found a queen digging a founding chamber!

 

Nice! Most likely C. Sansabeanus.

 

EDIT: On closer inspection (need better shots) this could be Myrmecocystus . 

 

 

Yeah that's Myrmecocystus. I think it's M. mimicus. I didn't know that variety with queens that color were up in the mountains. That's awesome you found that.

[dspdrew]

@nurbs

 

Remember what I was telling you about them?

 

I just found 3 of them. They have built founding chambers into the side of the cliff on the trails.