3 replies to this topic

[JWRay]

1. Location of collection:                      Canebrake Road, Kern County CA. Just east of Lake Isabella.
2. Date of collection:                             28 May 2016
3. Habitat of collection:                        ~4500 feet in elevation, collected in rocky desert scrub habitat at the base of some flowers
4. Length (from head to gaster):         ~5.5mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:      orangish forebody with a darker brown gaster
6. Distinguishing characteristics:        7 segments on antennae.
 

I attempted to key it out using Fisher & Cover to no avail. It seems to key to Brachymyrmex so I must be missing something. It kind of feels like a Formica to me, but the shorter antennae is throwing me for a loop. The pictures are not ideal but they are the best I can currently do. Any input would be useful.  Thanks.
 

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Edited by JWRay, June 6 2016 - 9:35 PM.

[dspdrew]

Looks like Formica to me.

[gcsnelling]

yup Formica.

[JWRay]

Well I took another look and think I figured out my confusion.  Both antennae appear to have been sliced off right at the 7th segment, the last segment is kind of chopped in half.  So I assume it must have originally had normal 12 segments, and therefore Formica certainly makes sense.