I have 2 Lasuis colonies, one has many workers, one has no eggs or workers or anything I was wondering if she might possibly be a parasite Lasius?
- Formiculture.com
- Forums
- Gallery
- Members
- Member Map
- Chat
2 lasius id's I need help with
Started By
1tsm3jack
, Oct 12 2024 9:02 AM
10 replies to this topic
#1
Offline
-
Posted October 12 2024 - 9:02 AM
1tsm3jack
-
- Members
-
- 173 posts
Advanced Member
- LocationCharlottesville, VA
#2
Offline
-
Posted October 12 2024 - 1:08 PM
OwlThatLikesAnts
-
- Members
-
- 183 posts
Advanced Member
The second one is definitely not a temporary parasite, she is a queen who is very very hungry looking, where did you find her?, she might be unfertile, but I can't tell that for sure. She could of used up all of her wing fat and is starved and is skinny like that, give her some honey water and see if she accepts
for species, they can be Lasius neoniger or americanus
Currently keeping:
1x Formica subsericea, (used to be polygynous) 15+ workers with 4 pupa (Idk why they still have)
1x Lasius umbratus, (Workers accepted) 5+ workers with host brood
1x Ponera pennsylvanica, just queen
As you watch your ants march, remember: every journey begins with a single step (or queen)-not just towards you, but towards a future woven by diligence and shared dreams - Me
(I lost braincells just to make this quote)
#3
Offline
-
Posted October 12 2024 - 4:51 PM
1tsm3jack
-
- Members
-
- 173 posts
Advanced Member
- LocationCharlottesville, VA
Nailed it with the hungry part, I offered her a blob of honey water probably double the size of her and she drank every single last drop, offered her another that was about the size of her and she is drinking it as I type this, currently about halfway through it, her gaster has nearly tripled in size if I had to guess.
Edit: should I be worried about her like popping her own gaster from drinking so much?
Edited by 1tsm3jack, October 12 2024 - 4:52 PM.
#4
Offline
-
Posted October 12 2024 - 10:49 PM
bmb1bee
-
- Members
-
- 944 posts
Advanced Member
- LocationHayward, CA
I wouldn't be worried about her popping her gaster, they'll know when to stop. And no, that is definitely not a parasite. Someone more well-versed in East Coast species could probably make a more accurate identification than I.
- 1tsm3jack likes this
"Float like a butterfly sting like a bee, his eyes can't hit what the eyes can't see."
- Muhammad Ali
Check out my shop and parasitic Lasius journal! Discord user is bmb1bee if you'd like to chat.
Also check out my YouTube channel: @bmb1bee
#5
Offline
-
Posted October 13 2024 - 8:08 AM
1tsm3jack
-
- Members
-
- 173 posts
Advanced Member
- LocationCharlottesville, VA
Bringing this back up because I still need ID please, I will post a picture of the very full queen in a few minutes
#6
Offline
-
Posted October 13 2024 - 8:38 AM
1tsm3jack
-
- Members
-
- 173 posts
Advanced Member
- LocationCharlottesville, VA
Here are the pictures
Attached Images
#7
Offline
-
Posted October 15 2024 - 12:20 PM
1tsm3jack
-
- Members
-
- 173 posts
Advanced Member
- LocationCharlottesville, VA
Help please I would really like to know what they are.
#8
Offline
-
Posted October 15 2024 - 2:49 PM
Ants_Dakota
-
- Members
-
- 2,339 posts
Advanced Member
- LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota
Help please I would really like to know what they are.
It is always nice to get a positive ID, but I do not think your pictures are quite good enough. In my opinion, she looks to be Lasius americanus, but there could be other similar species in your area that someone from Virginia would know more about. Keep in mind that the care for all claustral Lasius queens is nearly identical, so you should have no surprises coming up.
For the best chance at an ID, you are probably going to have to do it yourself. You can read about a similar struggle that I had here. A key from Antwiki such as this should aid you.
Edited by Ants_Dakota, October 15 2024 - 2:51 PM.
- 1tsm3jack likes this
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8
My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship ants nationwide
Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)
#9
Offline
-
Posted October 15 2024 - 3:09 PM
ANTdrew
-
- Moderators
-
- 9,880 posts
Advanced Member
- LocationAlexandria, VA
Can you describe the habitat you found them in? That may help narrow it down.
"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.
#10
Offline
-
Posted October 15 2024 - 3:50 PM
RushmoreAnts
-
- Members
-
- 4,234 posts
Advanced Member
- LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota
The first one appears to be either neoniger or pallitarsis, and the second one, being smaller, rounder, and more piceous (darker) appears to be either americanus or crypticus (it's presence on the East Coast has yet to be verified, my best guess would be americanus.) While she does appear to be malnourished, her smaller, pudgier stature is normal for the species.
- rptraut and 1tsm3jack like this
"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version
Keeping:
Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea
Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra
Myrmica sp.
Lasius neoniger, brevicornis
#11
Offline
-
Posted October 15 2024 - 3:52 PM
1tsm3jack
-
- Members
-
- 173 posts
Advanced Member
- LocationCharlottesville, VA
The first one appears to be either neoniger or pallitarsis, and the second one, being smaller, rounder, and more piceous (darker) appears to be either americanus or crypticus (it's presence on the East Coast has yet to be verified, my best guess would be americanus.) While she does appear to be malnourished, her smaller, pudgier stature is normal for the species.
The smaller one has gotten a lot bigger now even compared to the picture from a day or 2 ago.
1 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users
