6 replies to this topic

[rptraut]

I found these ants in a woodlot not far from my house and they live in my garden as well.  I live just north of London, Ontario, Canada where we have clay loam soil.  I don't know much about these ants, nuptial flights etc, but I do know that, even when a colony is small, they are active foragers and seem to like a variety of foods.  Workers are about 2-2.5 mm long and they are very black and very shiny.  The thorax is duller than the head and gaster.  Thank you in advance for your help with this identification.

 

 

 

 

 

I am amazed that I can take such magnified pictures of such small ants with a phone and a couple of clip-on lenses!

[Zeiss]

I'm wanting to say this is a species of Myrmica, but I can't say much more without clearer photos or a more detailed description of the ants.  

[antsriondel]

It looks a lot like Monomorium minimum, but I cannot guarantee unless if you get some better lighting.

[OiledOlives]

This is a Crematogastrini, most likely Temnothorax longispinosus.

It is not Monomorium because spines are quite clearly visible.

It isn't Myrmica either, which are much larger and look completely different.

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[Zeiss]

This is a Crematogastrini, most likely Temnothorax longispinosus.

It is not Monomorium because spines are quite clearly visible.

It isn't Myrmica either, which are much larger and look completely different.

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There are some species of Myrmica that do sit around 2-2.5mm in length and are present in Ontario, Canada.

 

I do, however, agree that these are instead Temnothorax longispinosus after looking at some better specimen photos online.

[NickAnter]

I would agree with T. longispinosus.

[rptraut]

Thanks for your help with this identification.  I tried to keep these kinds of ants before when I bought three queens.  They never amounted to much and gradually died off one by one.  This colony seems quite active and forage quite a bit more than the Temnothorax curvispinosis colonies that I keep.  I'm looking forward to keeping these girls as they are already very entertaining.