2 replies to this topic

[sirmonstera]

Hey everyone, found a bunch of tiny dead ants by chance while putting some dust under the microscope.

-Found indoors in a laboratory on the first floor, on the countertop, in some dust behind a TV. We have an urban park nearby but I'm guessing they live somewhere inside, based on the volume of dead ants I found in this small area (20-30 in 2 or 3 square feet)

-West Los Angeles

-Collected 9/29/22, countertop had not been dusted for about a week.
-1.2 mm long. Very small, I can't interpret them ants with the naked eye

-Shiny and golden with some hair. Translucent. Gaster appears slightly darker/more opaque

-2 petiole nodes

-Eyes are very far forward on the head

 

I'm sorry that the pictures are kinda blurry, the microscope camera doesn't have the best resolution. I might try taking pictures through the microscope next time I have the chance. I also apologize for weird perspective as I was taking the pictures of the TV at an angle.

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[That_one_ant_guy]

Maybe s molesta workers, Or similar?

[ReignofRage]

Seems a bit small for S. molesta. There's other species such as S. us-ca01, which is around this big, in that region along with who knows how many species that are just clumped into complexes due to the poor taxonomy.