12 replies to this topic

[Shareallicu]

1. Location of collection:  Lynnwood area of Washington, USA.

2. Date of collection: September 5, 2016
3. Habitat of collection:  found under a stone in the dirt.  The stone was the type that people make their handprints in.  Possibly plaster but unsure.
4. Length:  7-8 mm.
5. Coloration: shiny black with lighter legs and antennae. 
6. Distinguishing characteristics:  almond shaped eyes, but I couldn’t see any nodes.  But sometimes they are hard for me to see.  I’m also trying to ignore her so she will lay eggs asap.  I counted 11 antennal segments.  She also has some fine hairs on her gaster.
7. Anything else distinctive: jumpy when she sees me.
8. Nest description: A neighbor found her under the plaster rock in dirt.
9 . Post the clearest pictures possible of the top, side, and face of the ant in question, and if possible, their nest and the habitat they were collected in.

 

Thanks A lot!

 

[Batspiderfish]

Formica argentea, I believe, although the image is underexposed.

[Shareallicu]

Formica argentea, I believe, although the image is underexposed.

Sorry, thanks for trying.  These photos are from a neighbor who captured it for me.  My phone is just taking blurry, unhelpful pictures worse than these.   Are you sure she is a queen at least?  We weren't sure.  Thanks!  I'm looking to see if I can find some batteries for my digital camera...

Edited by Shareallicu, September 6 2016 - 10:51 PM.

[Batspiderfish]

She  is a queen. You can even see bits of wing on her mesosoma, suggesting that they were removed recently.

Edited by Batspiderfish, September 7 2016 - 6:50 AM.

[Shareallicu]

She  is a queen. You can even see bits of wing on her mesosoma, suggesting that they were removed recently.

Awesome!  thanks a lot!  I can't find any information online about Formica Argentea.   Do they like the dark?   Do they need food?  She has water   What size will her workers be?  How often should I check on her?  She seems really jumpy when I check on her hehe

[benjiwuf]

Formica species tend to be more light (and shadow) sensitive from my limited experience. She is fully claustral (so she doesn't need food), but a little honey water wouldn't hurt. I can't answer the third question. Typically leave queens be and they do their thing better undisturbed. Formica species ants from my experience tend to be quite sensitive to everything.

[Batspiderfish]

You can treat her like any other Formica from the fusca group.

[Shareallicu]

Formica species tend to be more light (and shadow) sensitive from my limited experience. She is fully claustral (so she doesn't need food), but a little honey water wouldn't hurt. I can't answer the third question. Typically leave queens be and they do their thing better undisturbed. Formica species ants from my experience tend to be quite sensitive to everything.

Thanks!  I am new at ant keeping so that is very helpful!

You can treat her like any other Formica from the fusca group.

I'm sorry, I am new to this   I don't know anything about the Formica ants.

[Batspiderfish]

Formica are fairly easy to care for, but they are sensitive. I think, caught at this time of year, your queen won't start laying until the spring. I was just implying that if you looked at the journals for basically an non-parasitic Formica (i.e. Formica subsericea, Formica pallidefulva, Formica incerta, Formica fusca), you would get a pretty good understanding of how to take care of your queen.

[Shareallicu]

Formica are fairly easy to care for, but they are sensitive. I think, caught at this time of year, your queen won't start laying until the spring. I was just implying that if you looked at the journals for basically an non-parasitic Formica (i.e. Formica subsericea, Formica pallidefulva, Formica incerta, Formica fusca), you would get a pretty good understanding of how to take care of your queen.

Okay, thanks a lot! 

[Batspiderfish]

Hi! I am changing my ID to Formica podzolica. I wasn't paying attention to how short the antennal scapes are.

[Shareallicu]

Hi! I am changing my ID to Formica podzolica. I wasn't paying attention to how short the antennal scapes are.

OKay cool no problem.  I know the pictures aren't the best, so that doesn't help  

[James C. Trager]

As I said elsewhere, lighting is the main issue with your photos. As batspiderfish said, F. podzolica is likely, or if she is rather shiny, then some other species (marcida=fusca, or even neogagates). But hard to say with these dark images.