8 replies to this topic

[AperturePrime]

I think it is a Lasius species, but I don't know how to narrow it down. It is larger than the listed 8-9mm of Niger.

 

1. Parking lot in Victoria BC Canada

2. Aug 1
3. Mall parking lots near a city parks
4.12mm
5. Appears all black
6. 7.  Single tall wedge shaped petiole, 12 antenna segments, smooth with no spines very few hairs
9. Two wingless queens found today
10 the dead one is a second queen I was too rough with when trying to capture. They appear to be the same species

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Edited by AperturePrime, August 1 2023 - 11:07 PM.

[ANTdrew]

Formica pacifica? Nice find.

[Virginian_ants]

Formica Pacifica have more colors, this is probably some other hard to ID fusca group like argentea. Still a great speices. Good luck! (Nice camera!)

[antsriondel]

Yeah it is a Formica species definitely in the fusca group.

[Locness]

This ID request needs to be pinned, it's perfect. We are used to sasquatch quality lol

[AperturePrime]

Thank you all for the ID. I can confirm that they match the behavior description for Formica Fusca, very fast and easily agitated. It's surprising what information can be relevant for an ID. I see from another request that workers can help in identifying this group, maybe I'll make another post in a few months.

 

This ID request needs to be pinned, it's perfect. We are used to sasquatch quality lol

 

Easily solved. Just give everyone ~$1300.00 worth of camera gear

Edited by AperturePrime, August 2 2023 - 9:43 PM.

[Mettcollsuss]

If you could get a photo showing the 4th tergite (essentially just a shot of the gaster from behind), that could help confirm or deny F. argentea

[AperturePrime]

Here are the shots I think you are asking for. Are there any better resources than Antweb and antwiki for identification? They have pictures and long lists of article, but not much in the way of diagnostics for identification.

 

I caught an elate of the same species today, so I have included the photos of the dropped wings. First two are the original dead specimen, third is of the new individual (she was not cooperating so it's shot through a test tube)

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[Mettcollsuss]

AntWiki sometimes has keys, especially for the more common genera: https://www.antwiki....ca_group_queens

I don't think it's argentea, the gaster pubescence looks much sparser than I'd expect for argentea.