3 replies to this topic

[LieutenAnt_Dan]

Hi everyone,

 

New here and my first post! I currently have the following species and looking to add a seventh:

 

Messor ebeninus

Temnothorax luteus

Manica rubida

Lasius niger

Odontomachus clarus

Dorymyrmex bicolor

 

I'm planning to focus my collection predominately on North American species and have been researching Novomessor, Pogonomyrmex etc. recently; are there any significant differences between N.Cockerelli and N. Albisetosus? both are available for purchase in the UK and I can't decide which to go for!

 

A wild card option could be Pogonomyrmex Californicus but I'm concerned their behaviors will be too similar to my M. ebeninus to bring something different to my collection? 

 

Thanks in advance, 

Dan

[ReignofRage]

There is little difference between N. albisetosus and N. cockerelli. However, on average, N. cockerelli is slightly larger, slightly shinier and the heads of workers are slightly longer in appearance.

[LieutenAnt_Dan]

Thank you for the response.

 

Based on the amount of content available online regarding N.cockerelli, it would seem it is more readily available compared to N.albisetosus? Apparently the latter is only native to three states in the US? 

[ReignofRage]

While N. cockerelli is native to an additional state (California), barely any queens get collected from California. The majority of Novomessor collecting occurs in Arizona where both species are abundant and flights happen en masse.