6 replies to this topic

[Pyrosmog]

1. Location of collection: I found this ant in a park just north of Salt Lake City, UT.
2. Date of collection: 9-24-16 in the afternoon. Sun had just come out after light showers.
3. Habitat of collection: I found it walking across a sidewalk that cut in between a large grass field (soccer field) and a undeveloped lot of taller brush and weeds.
4. Length (from head to gaster): Aprox. 12-14 mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Redish in color.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: See pictures.
7. Distinguishing behavior: Fairly active, chewing at the cotton in the test tube for a while after I put her in.
8. Nest description: N/A

 

Based on what I've been reading, to me they look like pogonomyrmex, but I'm rather new at this. Thanks for all your help!

 

- Jake

 

Oh, and if anyone knows I'd love to know if these are claustral or semi-claustral.

[Batspiderfish]

Definitely Pogonomyrmex. I'm still pretty ignorant when it comes to this genus, but these look like great photographs for somebody familiar to narrow it down.

[Pyrosmog]

Any one out there familiar with pogonomyrmex that can identify which species this is?  I know that some species of pogonomyrmex are semi-claustral and would like to know if, and how I should be feeding her.

[Canadian anter]

I would feed it just in case

[Norsk]

I know that there are Pogonomyrmex occidentalis in SLC. Oopers over on Ants Canada has a colony he caught in that same area. I'm not sure if there are other genus of Pogonomyrmex in SLC. http://forum.antscan....php?f=26&t=196

[ooper]

Definitely Pogonomyrmex and almost definitely the species is occidentalis. These queens are semi-claustral. I usually provide a few bits of chicken feed (crushed grains) for them. My best experiences with them have been when I connect the test tube setup to a small foraging area. I personally use AntsCanada Test Tube Portals.

 

Based on an email conversation I had with Jack Longino, a well-known myrmecologist, professor at UofU, there are only 3 species in Utah. Of those 3, only 2 are really common, the other species only barely makes it into western Utah. The two common ones are P. occidentalis and P. rugosus. P. occidentalis are found throughout the state. P. rugosus overlaps with P. occidentalis in the southern half of the state.

Edited by ooper, September 27 2016 - 2:01 PM.

[Pyrosmog]

Awesome, Thanks so much ooper!