8 replies to this topic

[noebl1]

Both of these alates were found under flower pots, and both are very small:

 

#1

 

1. Location of collection:                    Under large pot

 

2. Date of collection:                            8-26-2016 around 6pm

3. Habitat of collection:                       grass yard surrounded by heavily wooded land

 

4. Length (from head to gaster):         ~5mm  

 

5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:      black body, slight yellow/brown to legs

 

 

 

#2

 

1. Location of collection:                    Under large pot

 

2. Date of collection:                            8-26-2016 around 6pm

3. Habitat of collection:                       grass yard surrounded by heavily wooded land

 

4. Length (from head to gaster):         ~4.25mm  

 

5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:      reddish-brown body, very pronounced head and mandibles

 

Edited by noebl1, August 26 2016 - 2:21 PM.

[Canadian anter]

#1 male of some sort
#2 leptothorax cf muscorum

[noebl1]

Thanks!  Not a lot of care info on the forums.  Looks like maybe another person on her has them.  Guessing by gaster size only semi-claustral? 

Edited by noebl1, August 26 2016 - 3:43 PM.

[Canadian anter]

I don't know. The Leptothorax Queens I find always die

[Batspiderfish]

The head is too large and flat for Leptothorax. Myrmecina americana.

[Canadian anter]

@batspiderfish are they semi-claustral

[Batspiderfish]

I'm guessing they are semi-claustral. I've seen Myrmecina alates before, but never kept any. Rather than letting them loose in a foraging arena, I would attach or scotch tape a test tube with food onto to hers. This seems to be the best option (in my experience with Ponera) for letting subterranean semi-claustral queens forage.

Edited by Batspiderfish, August 26 2016 - 5:42 PM.

[noebl1]

Sounds like a good use for the test tube adapter I printed out  I was tired of taping test tubes for transport, so printed one up so I can attach them end to end.  Nice 20min print and saves tons of aggravation...  

 

She's super small too.  I almost thought it was a male alate of something until I caught her.  The other male alate died this evening in the test tube. 

[Batspiderfish]

I can't see anything for the first ant, btw.