3 replies to this topic

[Telarian]

Here I am again to beg for help in identifying an ant.

 

I think I am slowly getting better at this. I can follow along in the Genera key well enough to narrow things down. So, I know that this is a Camponotus. Which seems obvious, but this time I actually know this rather than just assuming it.

I also know however, that I am woefully inadequate to go any further than that. Particularly with Camponotus.

 

FIRST-Where collected? United States in Broomfield, Colorado (a suburb of Denver).

 

SECOND-Habitat of collection? On a small tree in a park surrounded by grass and cottonwoods. There were several of them on and around the tree and I'm assuming they are nesting in it somewhere.

 

THIRD-Coloration, hue and pattern? Red with a black gaster. Not particularly shiny.

 

FOURTH-Distinguishing characteristics? A single, not especially tall, segment in the waist. Head longer than it is wide, Medium size eyes rear of center and far to the outside, almost on the sides of the head, but not breaking the silhouette of the head. Twelve segments in the antenna. Flattened antennal scapes. Many erect hairs on the gaster and a few on the face.

 

FIFTH-Length in millimeters? 7mm

 

SIXTH-Anything else distinctive? Excellent climber. Medium gait. Relatively calm. Smooth movement.

 

Pictures: http://imgur.com/a/ov18U

 

Thanks as always for your assistance.

 

Tory Netherton

[dspdrew]

Looks like Camponotus. I was going to check the species for Colorado in AntWeb, but unfortunately, the link to the image list of genera for Colorado takes you to Brazil. It was doing the same thing for California for a while, except it would take you to some museum's collection of ants. I really don't know what in the world happened to that website. It used to be a great tool, but now somebody really screwed it all up.

 

Edit: It looks like they're all taking you to Brazil now. Fantastic. I guess since the "subfamilies" link is correct, you can go there, and then click on the subfamily you want, which seems to take you to the correct genera list... for now anyway.

Edited by dspdrew, May 6 2016 - 6:43 AM.

[dspdrew]

Looks like a small major, so at 7mm, that is probably in the Myrmentoma subgenus. I think it might be Camponotus decipiens, or Camponotus nearcticus. I have no idea how much those range in color.

[Telarian]

Thanks a bunch Drew.