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[Ants_Dakota]

1. Location of collection: Sioux Falls, SD

2. Date of collection: Sometime in June or July
3. Habitat of collection: Unknown. Unfortunately, I did not label my colonies earlier this year
4. Length: Medium-sized Formica. Unfortunately, I still do not have access to a ruler (I really need to buy one). It is likely in the Formica fusca group
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: A silvery black color over the whole body, with red hints on the antennae and legs. There is a decent amount of long pubescence on the abdomen
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Currently, just the hair and red hints
7. Anything else distinctive: Nothing particular
8. Nest description: Unknown

9. Nuptial flight time and date: Unknown
10 . Post the clearest pictures possible of the top, side, and face of the ant in question, and if possible, their nest and the habitat they were collected in.
Possibly Formica subsericea, podzolica, or argentea. I want to know if these images are good enough to ID.

I currently have two colonies of these. One with workers and one without.

 

Colony 1

 

Album: Formica cf. subsericea Colony 1

7 images

0 comments

 

Colony 2

 

Album: Formica cf. subsericea Colony 2

5 images

0 comments

Edited by Ants_Dakota, Today, 9:10 AM.

[Ants_Dakota]

As a sidenote to people who like to ID ants by just looking at a picture, like myself, and then promptly respond to a post with their best 5 second guess, also like myself, there is a method to detailed ID's like this. Antwiki is your greatest resource. In the words of gcsnelling "lots and lots of practice." Key's are the best way to go about an ID with good pictures or microscopic images. The one necessary for this ID can be found here. So why don't I do this myself? I can't. I have no idea the terms they use for the anatomy of an ant (ie. Metasternum with two distinctly pilose processes, arising on each side of the spinasternal cavity). This is why, when I post an ID, I ask what tipped the IDer off to the species. Examples of this can be found here or here. If you are giving an ID, please walk me or other users through the process.

Edited by Ants_Dakota, Today, 9:10 AM.