15 replies to this topic

[sehrgut]

I'm extremely new to anting, so I apologise if I just haven't found the right reference to answer this question myself.

 

I went out in my backyard to look for Temnothorax spp. after watching a video about them. The idea of tiny colonies living inside a single acorn was just too cool.

 

Unfortunately, even though I have two species of oak in my backyard and more acorns than you can shake a stick at, I didn't (in about 15 minutes of looking -- I wasn't very patient) find any rotted-out acorns; much less any colonized ones.

 

I did start lifting some bricks and rocks, though, to see if I had anything interesting under them. Underneath one large brick, I did find a bunch of ants tending their brood. It was near dusk by that point, so I didn't get any pictures, but I'm going to try taking some today. I was wondering, though, if it was likely that small blackish-brownish ants found under a brick in my area were likely the entire colony living very shallowly, or if it was more likely they were just a bit of a much deeper colony. If I could collect the whole colony, that would make a nice first foray into anting, I think.

Edit: Here's the gallery, updated with crappy toy microscope images.

 

Album: Unknown sp., Augusta, GA

8 images

0 comments

Edited by sehrgut, November 8 2015 - 12:29 PM.

[Mdrogun]

It is really hard to tell without an identification. It would also help to know what kind of brood you saw eggs,larvae or pupae. Temnothorax are going to be near immposible to find looking at acorns. I found a Temnothorax colony in an acorn in the woods once. I can't believe I did not keep the acorn. I wish I could help you but I need pictures of ants and them under the rock.

[sehrgut]

Thanks for the reply! I've captured and frozen one worker from the colony. Here are the images. I'm trying to work through the keys on the Mississippi Entomological Museum site right now, but help would be appreciated.

 

Album: Unknown sp., Augusta, GA

8 images

0 comments

[TheAnswerIsTheLogic]

I'm sure that ants are tetramorium, more exactly sp.e (one some species of temnothorax make their nests into acorn).

[TheAnswerIsTheLogic]

I'm sure that ants are tetramorium, more exactly sp.e (one some species of temnothorax make their nests into acorn).

Definetly not temnothorax and not tetramorium.

[sehrgut]

I didn't think this was Temnothorax, that was just me talking about why I was out looking for ants in my yard in the first place.

Also, I completely forgot I have a Celestron digital scope, so I'll put up some much better pics shortly, including a face shot if I can get it.

Edited by sehrgut, November 8 2015 - 12:32 PM.

[sehrgut]

Okay, I've taken the best images I can with my digital microscope and added them to the album. I tried getting a face shot because I couldn't get past a certain point in the dichotomous key without it. I still can't quite tell, because of poor contrast, how the frontal carinae are spaced (and a hand glass doesn't help me with that either). I hope the micrographs clear it up a bit for you more experienced anters. :-D

[Jonathan21700]

Aphaenogaster sp. I think.

[Mdrogun]

It might be Pheidole. 

Could you get a live worker?

[sehrgut]

Aphaenogaster sp. I think.

That was one of my guesses. Do you have any idea what species it could be?

 

It might be Pheidole. 

Could you get a live worker?

I might be able to, once it stops raining. What would I be looking for in the live vs. killed worker?

[Mdrogun]

It helps to identify them when you see their body posture and how they walk. Also you should see if there are different sized workers.

 

The worker in that picture looks a lot like the pheidole one in this picture

Attached Images

• 

Edited by Mdrogun, November 8 2015 - 1:56 PM.

[Mdrogun]

Aphaenogaster look a lot like this the colors can vary just look at the body shape

Attached Images

• 

[sehrgut]

Hmm, ya, that actually looks a lot longer and skinnier. I couldn't find any Pheidole in the Antweb list of ants in my state that had heads or eyes that looked like mine, though.

[Jonathan21700]

It seems that the GA list has been mixed up with the list of the country Georgia.

I think this is Aphaenogaster but can you get images of an live ant?

Edited by Jonathan21700, November 8 2015 - 2:17 PM.

[sehrgut]

I think this is Aphaenogaster but can you get images of an live ant?

I'll try tomorrow or Tuesday if the rain lets up.

 

 

 

 

It seems that the GA list has been mixed up with the list of the country Georgia.

I noticed that. I'm on the SC border, so I'm trying the SC ants. That's the problem with using natural keys in a db . . .

Edited by sehrgut, November 8 2015 - 2:23 PM.

[Mdrogun]

Antweb does not always have all of the species in your area. LC3 has Tetramorium and they are not listed in Antweb as being in his area.