10 replies to this topic

[AntidepressAnt]

After a while I finally saw a good nuptial flight in here. There were lots of winged ants and termites around, but this queen is the only one I decided to keep. She landed on my arm and I think she looks pretty interesting.

 

Location: Paracuru (town), Ceará (estate), Brazil.

Date of collection: 10/02/2024

Habitat of collection: garden.

Length: I'd guess she is about 7 mm long.

Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: almost entirely shiny black, with some pale markings on the gaster.

Distinguishing characteristics: rather bulky, with short antennae, and an almost square-shaped head when seen from above.

 

 

 

[bmb1bee]

Lovely queen you've found. I'm not proficient at IDing ants outside of California, but my best guess for these would be Cephalotes sp. 

[Artisan_Ants]

Like what bmb1bee said. It is in the genus Cephalotes, and I believe it’s a Cehpalotes minutes alate, or C. minutus.

Edited by Artisan_Ants, February 10 2024 - 12:00 PM.

[AntidepressAnt]

Thanks guys.

 

Are they fully claustral?

[ZATrippit]

Thanks guys.

Are they fully claustral?

https://m.facebook.c...519530864867145
This would suggest fully claustral.

[Artisan_Ants]

Majority of some studies show that they like to live in trees; so you if your housing her, then you have to make it look like a wood nest. They are also polygynous.

[bmb1bee]

Majority of some studies show that they like to live in trees; so you if your housing her, then you have to make it look like a wood nest. They are also polygynous.

I would be cautious on the "polygynous" part. Cephalotes texana may be polygynous, but that doesn't apply to all species in the genus. 

[Artisan_Ants]

Majority of some studies show that they like to live in trees; so you if your housing her, then you have to make it look like a wood nest. They are also polygynous.

I would be cautious on the "polygynous" part. Cephalotes texana may be polygynous, but that doesn't apply to all species in the genus.

It was just a statement from some study, but yeah; you have a point.

[AntidepressAnt]

Right now she is in a homemade starter formicarium made of plaster, is that alright? I don't know a thing about woodworking.

[JesseTheAntKid]

I'm sure she'll be fine. It's the same stuff E. O. Wilson and Bert Hölldobler used in their studies for ants.

[Artisan_Ants]

I'm sure she'll be fine. It's the same stuff E. O. Wilson and Bert Hölldobler used in their studies for ants.

True, and plus; it keeps a lot of moisture in like wood.