Jump to content

  • Gallery
  • Members
  • Member Map
  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Queen ID, Lasius sp?

Started By Mercutia , Sep 24 2015 10:55 AM

  • Please log in to reply
4 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Mercutia - Posted September 24 2015 - 10:55 AM

Mercutia

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 621 posts
  • LocationToronto, Canada

Caught September 23, Southern Ontario (Toronto).

 

5-6mm (so pretty small)

 

Very shiny. I honestly can't tell if she's parasitic or not which would be disappointing if she was. Her head looks really big in pictures.

Sorry, can't crop right now. Reminds me of a thinner, shinier version of Lasius umbratus. Pretty slender if she is a Lasius.

 

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t297/kittyxsweet/Photo%202015-09-23%2010%2045%2012%20PM.jpg

 

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t297/kittyxsweet/Photo%202015-09-23%2011%2002%2046%20PM.jpg

 

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t297/kittyxsweet/Photo%202015-09-23%2011%2000%2048%20PM.jpg

 

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t297/kittyxsweet/Photo%202015-09-23%2011%2000%2041%20PM.jpg


#2 Offline Crystals - Posted September 24 2015 - 11:15 AM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,049 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

Those are huge mandibles.  Definately a parasitic Lasius queen.

Not entirely sure of the species though.

 

Kind of looks like umbratus to me, but I have no experience with the parasitic Lasius.


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies

#3 Offline Mercutia - Posted September 24 2015 - 11:26 AM

Mercutia

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 621 posts
  • LocationToronto, Canada

Sigh. Anyone want to send me some Lasius pupae?

 

Thing is in my experience Lasius umbratus usually fly a lot earlier than this. This was a full flight too, not just a winter dump. I know the mating chart says that umbratus fly pretty much the whole season but I've yet to see an umbratus flight past early August, but that's just my personal experience.

 

Also my last few Lasius umbratus queens had more of a matted shine where these are really reflective and shiny but it's been a while since I've seen a Lasius umbratus queen in real life so my memory is a bit hazy.


#4 Offline Crystals - Posted September 24 2015 - 11:45 AM

Crystals

    Advanced Member

  • Moderators
  • PipPipPip
  • 2,049 posts
  • LocationAthabasca, AB (Canada)

The 3 Lasius I have only have eggs at the moment, no workers yet either to even attempt a fridge-style introduction.

I will check some wild nests, but it is extraordinarily late in the season...


"Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astound the rest." -- Samuel Clemens

 

List of Handy Links   (pinned in the General section)

My Colonies

#5 Offline Mercutia - Posted September 24 2015 - 12:01 PM

Mercutia

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 621 posts
  • LocationToronto, Canada

I was going to try a barrier style introduction. Thin cloth barrier in between two test tubes with large reservoirs forcing the ants to be within close proximity to each other. But I rarely have time to go out anymore anting so I don't think I'll be able to do anything about these queens this year.


Back to Ant ID Requests · Next Unread Topic →


1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users