14 replies to this topic

[FeistysWitch]

Collected in Artesia, NM. I know this is a Myrmecocystus sp. I just am trying to narrow it down. They are very large queens coming in at about half an inch, and they are at least polygynous during the founding stage as I almost never find them in single queen cells. In fact the largest number I pulled from a single claustral chamber today was 22 queens in total. I know M. mimicus is polygynous but everything I read puts them at 8-9mm not nearly half an inch. They also come in three colors also being pulled from the same nest fully black, only a red head, and red head and thorax. I'm a little stumped.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

could it be M.depilis

[FeistysWitch]

I'm not sure. That's another species that good ole google says is closer to 8-9mm but google is a less than reliable source.

[ReignofRage]

The M. mimicus-flaviceps-group, containing both M. mimicus and M. depilis, have queens that are typically around 12 mm. Wherever the 8-9 mm measurements are comming from needs to be avoided. M. depilis seems to be a likely species based on locale and time of year. However, better pictures would help.

[IdioticMouse26]

I'm not very good at identifiying ants, but from what i see in pictures online, I would also say its M.depilis

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

I find Google to be unreliable in these topics. And as ReignofRage said they fly around this time and is around your area I will stick with M.depilis

[FeistysWitch]

Ok, sounds good. Next question, are they more likely to be M. depilis or M. mimicus, or are the two nearly the same species? I haven't found much info on depilis but I know mimicus is polygynous.

[ReignofRage]

It is more likely to be M. depilis, in my opinion.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

Ok, sounds good. Next question, are they more likely to be M. depilis or M. mimicus, or are the two nearly the same species? I haven't found much info on depilis but I know mimicus is polygynous.

Mimicus is a little bigger then depilis but it seems to be depilis

[FeistysWitch]

Awesome, thank you. And depilis is also known to polygynous during founding?

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

Not that I know of

[FeistysWitch]

Huh. Ok. Well I'll have to try to get some decent pictures then for curiosity's sake. These queens are definitely polygynous during founding at least. I don't keep them together but when I was digging them up almost ever single chamber had more than one queen. One actually had 22 queens in a single chamber.

[GOCAMPONOTUS]

It seems these queens can also be pleometrotic meaning they will found with eachother then the workers will cull all but one queen

Edited by GOCAMPONOTUS, June 12 2024 - 6:48 AM.

[FeistysWitch]

That would be the correct terminology, thank you, I couldn't think of it. That's what I was curious about. Because they seem very attracted to each other during founding. I have even observed newly mates queens coming across established nests and the workers weren't acting aggressively towards them. Didn't seem to be escorting them into the nest or anything but they weren't attacking either.

[Mushu]

It's does not appear terribly uncommon for  colony foundation by pleometrosis for ants.

 

Antopia USA had some Myrmecocystus placodops 01 with multiple queens for sale. M. mimicus is known to. M mendax has a truly polygynous genotype.

 

You never know when after some time polygynous colonies may develop or are already developed in certain species. 

Edited by Mushu, June 12 2024 - 9:25 PM.