4 replies to this topic

[YoungMillie]

Hi everyone,

I moved to a new house in Southern California and found these small yellowish, orange ants on my patio. I caught a queen a few day ago and she has already laid eggs. Tonight I noticed them and took a closer look to find what I think are majors along with the smaller ants. I'm hoping to get an identification, if anyone happens to know that species they are. Hopefully the pics are clear enough. I'm in Winnetka California in the San fernando valley.

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[AntsCali098]

Need better pictures to confirm, but I'm pretty sure they are pheidole navigans

[ReignofRage]

Those are indeed P. navigans. The other invasive Pheidole in Southern California differ notably in minors, likewise with our native species. Surprisingly, P. navigans seems to be the only accomplished invasive Pheidole in California density and disribution wise. The only other known invasive Pheidole species are P. fervens, P. indica, and P. megacephala. The foremost is extremely sparse in urban Los Angeles with a seemingly shifty population due to L. humile.The penultimate has not been known to be extant since 1997 when the only known population was deemed extirpated by Linepithema humile.  The lattermost is only known from a collection in Costa Mesa and an old record from Catalina Island.

Edited by ReignofRage, July 16 2023 - 10:06 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Good ol’ Vendayn was obsessed with Pheidole megacephala in California.

[gcsnelling]

Good ol’ Vendayn was obsessed with Pheidole megacephala in California.

Among other things.