6 replies to this topic

[Ants4fun]

When I went to the beach I found a colony of ants trying to move under a leaf!  I got a tub and put the leaf in there and then they all went crazy!  I probably only got part of it but still managed to get at least 2 queens! I tried to put in what looked like another part of the colony...but I was wrong. (They had a small fight but the originals overtake the newbies pretty easy) I still have them in there collection tub and they have moved into a few dried leaves.  I am now back home and will try to make a formicarium soon.  Can you identify them? They are black and move really fast randomly.  They are allowed to have multiple queens, like warm environments, are only a couple millimeters long, found in low elevation, and will nest practically everywhere.  They sort of remind me of crazy ants.  Pics coming soon.

[Crystals]

I see your location is Costa Rica, and I am afraid that I am not good at identifying tropical ants.  There are hundreds of species down there.

 

Can you get pictures?  Close up front and side views would be great, of a worker and possibly of a queen.

Are any of the workers different in size from one another?  Much larger head or body?

An exact measurement would be helpful, even a difference of 1-2mm will help pinpoint your species.

 

Here are the known species in your area: http://www.antweb.or...e&genCache=true

[dspdrew]

Following this (http://forum.formicu...t-a-new-thread/) would be the best way to get your ants ID'd.

[Ants4fun]

Here's the link to the pics. https://www.dropbox....8ta1/gToywQ3E3Y

[Ants4fun]

I'm planing on making a grout formicacium soon.

[Crystals]

Nice.

Not a species I am familiar with, but then again I live in northern Canada.

If I were to catch a glimpse of those in my backyard I would say one of the Formica species.  But I do not see Formica in the Costa Rica ant list.

 

We would need pretty good close-ups of the ants, with a top and side view.  Even a dead ant will work.

 

They could be anything from Camponotus or Dolichoderus or Nylanderia, or a number of others.

 

Questions:

1. size (in mm - even an error of 2 mm is big in IDing ants)

2. were they in that wood when you found them?

3. color

[dspdrew]

Yeah it's best to read this first. http://forum.formicu...t-a-new-thread/, and try to provide some of this info. With only pictures hardly anyone will be able to help you, even the professionals a lot of times.