3 replies to this topic

[MusicInvertebrates]

Link to pictures: https://imgur.com/a/ant-F8VLP2H

1. Location (on a map) of collection: North Carolina Piedmont

2. Date of collection: July 24
 2024.
Habitat of collection: Mixed oak and pine forest neighborhood

4. Length (from head to gaster): ~10mm, ~1cm

5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: red-brown copper the gaster is shinier than the rest of the body and is slightly more red, fairly dull except for the gaster, no pattern, ruff texture?

6. Distinguishing characteristics: has fairly long antennae

7. Distinguishing behavior: does not seem to display active aggression against other queens?

8. Nest description: unknown, nest might have been located further in neighbor yard
9. Nuptial flight time and date: unknown

Found the queens near the road where a bunch of worker were eating some sort of bread(?) the wingless queen was on the food eating with the rest of the workers while the one with a single wing was walking to the food. The workers showed no aggressive behavior to the queens and seemed to just ignore them as they carried the food back to their nest. The queens also showed no aggressive behavior towards each other and were fairly active when I first caught them and when I fed them honey. Right now the wingless queen has calmed down but the one with the single wing is more active.

[Mettcollsuss]

Aphaenogaster ashmeadi

[MusicInvertebrates]

Thank you!

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

It looks like aphaeogaster but I am too dum to identify the species of ants in the US