3 replies to this topic

[benjiwuf]

So before i begin: i hope i'm wrong with what i keyed these out to be (like normal lol), or that they're males.

 

1. Grossroehrsdorf Germany

2. 09.09.16
3. Oak and pine forest edge. fields very close by.
4. 6mm
5. Velvet hair covered gaster, sompletely black.
6. Two petiole nodes is all i can safely say.
7. nest not found
8. nest not found

9.

 

[T.C.]

I almost positive that is a male (aka drone)

[Canadian anter]

It looks very similar to the myrmica rubra males here

[benjiwuf]

I almost positive that is a male (aka drone)

That's exactly what I was thinking as they don't have the typical enlarged gaster, the thorax is quite large when compared to everything else, and the head is quite disproportionate with the eyes. What was odd though is that every one of these were wandering around just like a queen would. Must be the conditions for this species were terrible this year and we're simply kicked out of the nest (as I saw no wandering queens in the area). Then again if it happens to be a Myrmica rubra flight then the other colonies might have grabbed the queens. There was quite a lot of Myrmica colony activity in the area.

Edit: just looked at Myrmica rubra males on ant wiki, and they look identical. So I'm pretty sure I either missed a rather large flight (too early or late) or that this summer was just too unfavorable for them.

Edited by benjiwuf, September 9 2016 - 6:35 PM.