7 replies to this topic

[Bryansant]

1. Location of collection: Austin, Texas
2. Date of collection: June 25, 2016, late afternoon, at around 5:00 pm.
3. Habitat of collection: Suburban park. Under a large rock at the base of a tree in a grove of live oak.
4. Length: 11 mm.
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Dark brown with a slightly lighter reddish brown gaster with some fine hair on the last segments of the gaster.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Nothing specific stands out to me, but after perusing this site for a little time now, I'd say she looks like a Camponotus.
7. Anything else distinctive: Nothing distinctive per se.
8. Nest description: She was sitting in a subterranean tunnel/chamber beneath the rock. I believe she's a newly mated queen. She gave quite an exciting chase after I lifted the rock and so I may have missed any eggs or larvae; but, being a larger species I imagine I would have noticed her brood if she had much beyond eggs.

 

 

Edited by Bryansant, June 27 2016 - 7:14 PM.

[Bryansant]

And trouble loading photos...

[Bryansant]

I keep getting this error: You aren't permitted to upload this kind of file

[AntsMAN]

Does she look like any of the following.

 

Camponotus castaneus

 

 

Camponotus americanus

 

 

Camponotus vicinus

[Bryansant]

Does she look like any of the following.

 

[...]

 

 

I finally figured out the photos and they are showing up now. She looks a lot like C. vicinus, but they all look very similar to me aside from the color variation. The coloration of that C. castaneus is great!

[AntsMAN]

I would say she is Camponotus vicinus.
 

Edited by AntsMAN, June 28 2016 - 6:29 AM.

[Bryansant]

I would say she is Camponotus vicinus.

Thanks for the help! Where did you find the C. castaneus?

[AntsMAN]

I just got the picture off google as a reference. They are not in my area, but they are in yours. They nest under rocks and in dead wood. I would love to have one I love the color, and how all the tiny details pop out.

 

Gratz on the Camponotus vicinus keep us posted on her progress.