5 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

8-1-2015
 
1. Location of collection:  Landers, California.
2. Date of collection: 7-21-2015.
3. Habitat of collection:  High Desert.
4. Length (from head to gaster):  12mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:  Red head; red thorax and redish-brown gaster.
 
I dug this Myrmecocystus cf. romainei queen up from its founding chamber on 7-21-2015, in Landers, California. The area was still very wet from all the rain two days before.
 

 

 

 

 
 
This has been put into one of my small antfarm/dirt boxes, where she quickly dug herself a nest.

[gcsnelling]

I think M. wheeleri is a distinct option.I have seen this one before but do not remember for sure the species.

[dspdrew]

Yeah, I was thinking M. wheeleri. That would be awesome if it is, because I really wanted one.

[dspdrew]

Update 9-27-2015
 
This queen died two weeks ago, before ever getting any workers. I was able to get it out of it's nest before it molded too much. I did have to scrape some mold off of it, so the specimen is in pretty bad condition.
 
I tried keying it out, and I'm pretty sure this is Myrmecocystus romainei.
 

 

 

[dspdrew]

Update 9-8-2022

I caught more of these queens in Twentynine Palms and near Chiriaco Summit back in August.

 

Here is a colony shortly after a mating flight.

 

 

 

 

They just started getting their first workers about a week ago.

 

 

 

 

 

[ZTYguy]

Awesome! They are pretty nicely colored if I do say so myself.