Found on my front porch this afternoon around 4:30pm. It's 84F and sunny today.
Approximately 5mm.
Maybe the long spines give it away?
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Michigan 9/18/22
Started By
Polyacanthus
, Sep 18 2022 1:26 PM
10 replies to this topic
#1
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Posted September 18 2022 - 1:26 PM
Polyacanthus
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This species is new to me, not sure where to start.
Found on my front porch this afternoon around 4:30pm. It's 84F and sunny today.
Approximately 5mm.
Maybe the long spines give it away?
Found on my front porch this afternoon around 4:30pm. It's 84F and sunny today.
Approximately 5mm.
Maybe the long spines give it away?
#2
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Posted September 18 2022 - 1:59 PM
T.C.
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Myrmica rubra (?) However off the top of my head I didn't think the queens had spikes like that.
#3
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Posted September 18 2022 - 2:04 PM
NicholasP
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Myrmica rubra (?) However off the top of my head I didn't think the queens had spikes like that.
I'd recommend not giving exact species for Myrmica. Myrmica here in the Northern U.S. all look too closely similar to just say it's a species without seeing the microscopic hairs. It is Myrmica though for sure.
#4
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Posted September 18 2022 - 2:07 PM
NicholasP
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Also, I need to say this before I forget... Myrmica rubra is not native to Michigan and there are absolutely NO records of them in Michigan. So, I highly doubt it's rubra. It's just another Myrmica species. I found quite a few of them just like that one this year.
#5
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Posted September 18 2022 - 2:13 PM
T.C.
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That's why there is a question mark. Myrmica rubra supposedly aren't in WI either but I had one IDed as such. AntMaps can only be so accurate.
#6
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Posted September 18 2022 - 2:16 PM
OiledOlives
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#7
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Posted September 18 2022 - 3:00 PM
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Not rubra
I started to wonder this. Any ideas? I searched antwiki with no hope. Maybe Gordon will pop in.
#8
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Posted September 18 2022 - 4:04 PM
Polyacanthus
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Thanks, that gives me a start. Going through some internet info it looks like maybe something similar to M. incompleta. Maybe she'll found a colony and I can analyze further.
#9
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Posted September 18 2022 - 4:15 PM
OiledOlives
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Not rubra
I started to wonder this. Any ideas? I searched antwiki with no hope. Maybe Gordon will pop in.
Spine length
@Polyacanthus, you will have more success using a dichotomous key to get species. Care for Myrmica is all pretty similar though so finding out the species doesn't really matter.
#10
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Posted September 18 2022 - 6:38 PM
NicholasP
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Raising Myrmica is fairly easy. They're Semi-claustral and usually don't require hibernation but sometimes do. A fruitfly every other day should be enough for the queen until workers come about. Also, I'd advise against a heating cable. Just keep them at 75F and they'll be fine.
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