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Guatemala Ant Observations

Started By ANTdrew , Jun 30 2023 7:41 PM

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#1 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 30 2023 - 7:41 PM

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I’ll start up this thread to document some of the amazing ants I’m observing during a trip to the central highlands of Guatemala. Please chime in with ID suggestions since I’m basically at a total loss here.

Here is my first observation, some sort of Pheidole with a ridiculously huge head. This one was in a cloud forest.
DA41000-C-6425-4-AA3-9565-D1-F95-ED32-D8
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#2 Offline ANTdrew - Posted June 30 2023 - 7:44 PM

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Here are some Atta mexicana, which are very abundant:
BA0-E91-D1-528-A-48-DA-A77-C-94623-B2-C6
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#3 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 1 2023 - 3:04 AM

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Another massive Solenopsis major. This one was 7mm at least.
DC893-F19-365-C-471-E-9975-1680-EFA195-B
EDE8-B355-ED04-4-B76-ADAA-0-ABC6-C72-AC4

Edited by ANTdrew, July 1 2023 - 1:06 PM.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#4 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 1 2023 - 3:14 AM

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Some sort of small, stubby looking Camponotus. Formicines are not that abundant down here.

AD3-C3985-FB55-4-D66-9264-3-B11690700-BD
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#5 Offline Mettcollsuss - Posted July 1 2023 - 6:41 AM

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Another massive Pheidole major. This one was 7mm at least.

Solenopsis geminata. It's not quite visible here but Solenopsis have a 2-segmented antennal club while Pheidole have a 3 (or rarely 4) segmented club. The most easily visible difference here should be the petiole shape, Solenopsis and most other solenopsidines have a pretty characteristic petiole. The node of the petiole is taller but somewhat skinny, just about equal in height with the postpetiole. The best I can describe it, the petioles appear to run parallel with themselves.

 

Some sort of small, stubby looking Camponotus. Formicines are not that abundant down here.

The only similar looking species AntWeb lists for Guatemala are species like C. zoc or C. abscisus, though there are some more similar species in nearby regions. I can't really narrow it down to a subgenus since I can't tell how wide the propodeum is; it should be either Myrmobrachys or Myrmaphaenus.


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#6 Offline Manitobant - Posted July 1 2023 - 9:30 AM

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I think the pheidole might be fimbriata, the closest relative of P. rhea and interesting from an evolutionary standpoint as the most primitive member of the genus.

Edited by Manitobant, July 1 2023 - 9:34 AM.

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My journals:

Polyergus Mexicanus: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry175528
Lasius minutus: https://www.formicul...cs/#entry174811
Lasius latipes: https://www.formicul...gs/#entry206449
General acanthomyops journal: https://www.formicul...yops-with-eggs/

#7 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 1 2023 - 1:14 PM

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Another massive Pheidole major. This one was 7mm at least.

Solenopsis geminata. It's not quite visible here but Solenopsis have a 2-segmented antennal club while Pheidole have a 3 (or rarely 4) segmented club. The most easily visible difference here should be the petiole shape, Solenopsis and most other solenopsidines have a pretty characteristic petiole. The node of the petiole is taller but somewhat skinny, just about equal in height with the postpetiole. The best I can describe it, the petioles appear to run parallel with themselves.

Some sort of small, stubby looking Camponotus. Formicines are not that abundant down here.

The only similar looking species AntWeb lists for Guatemala are species like C. zoc or C. abscisus, though there are some more similar species in nearby regions. I can't really narrow it down to a subgenus since I can't tell how wide the propodeum is; it should be either Myrmobrachys or Myrmaphaenus.
Thanks! You guys are truly amazing. C. zoc looks more like it to me due to head shape. I can try to get more photos of the propodeum.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#8 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 1 2023 - 1:20 PM

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I found this bellicose beauty floating in a swimming pool. Looks like a large Pheidole queen to me. She is about 7-8mm. Any thoughts?

19828-C87-E179-4-A7-C-9-BF3-DFC8-CA75268
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#9 Offline antsriondel - Posted July 1 2023 - 1:31 PM

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Nice find! Definitely some Pheidole species.


#10 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 2 2023 - 3:26 PM

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Here’s another photo of those small, flower loving Camponotus:
132916-D2-D19-E-4-C49-A939-C1-B6-DD4-F57

947865-DF-D5-FB-4-C61-901-E-04-F153-EAE6

Edited by ANTdrew, July 2 2023 - 3:28 PM.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#11 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 3 2023 - 6:31 AM

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I just found this beauty on the steps of our place here in Guatemala:
8-BB8-CFCB-0103-4-C4-A-8402-C0276-ED284-

67-B5-F926-D1-EC-48-F2-92-F1-ADE6-D8-AF9
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#12 Offline Virginian_ants - Posted July 3 2023 - 7:42 AM

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What type of queen is she

#13 Offline ANTdrew - Posted July 3 2023 - 9:05 AM

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What type of queen is she

One of the five bajillion Pheidole species??
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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#14 Offline Virginian_ants - Posted July 3 2023 - 9:28 AM

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Cool!
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