6 replies to this topic

[Aaron567]

I have been seeing these 2mm workers walking around near the nests of Pheidole bicarinata, but I am pretty sure they are not Pheidole. They move differently and the whole body shape and leg length looks different (in my opinion) from Pheidole. They have 2 nodes, their head length is greater than the width, and they are brown with a darker colored gaster. In one of the pictures, it looks like there is a stinger, but I am not sure.

 

(These pictures aren't great because it was really tiny and wouldn't stop moving.)

Any Ideas on the genus?

 

Edited by Aaron567, October 14 2016 - 4:48 PM.

[Mdrogun]

I have been seeing these 2mm workers walking around near the nests of Pheidole bicarinata, but I am pretty sure they are not Pheidole. They move differently and the whole body shape and leg length looks different (in my opinion) from Pheidole. They have 2 nodes, their head length is greater than the width, and they are brown with a darker colored gaster. In one of the pictures, it looks like there is a stinger, but I am not sure.

 

(These pictures aren't great because it was really tiny and wouldn't stop moving.)

Any Ideas on the genus?

 

I'm thinking this is Solenopsis molesta or Solenopsis carolinensis. Solenopsis carolinensis are "abundantly hairy"and in the last pic this ant seems to be quite hairy.

[Aaron567]

 

I'm thinking this is Solenopsis molesta or Solenopsis carolinensis. Solenopsis carolinensis are "abundantly hairy"and in the last pic this ant seems to be quite hairy.

 

But S. molesta or S. carolinensis have much smaller eyes, and they lack the small spike/spikes that this specimen has on it's thorax. You can just barely see the spike in the second picture and the fourth picture

Edited by Aaron567, October 14 2016 - 7:07 PM.

[Aaron567]

Could it be Leptothorax sp.?

[Canadian anter]

Leptothorax would be a little big what about temnothorax

[Batspiderfish]

Pretty sure we're looking at Cardiocondyla sp., based on the shape of the gaster and post-petiole.

[Mdrogun]

Pretty sure we're looking at Cardiocondyla sp., based on the shape of the gaster and post-petiole.

I agree. Taking a closer look these are the 3 species in Florida that somewhat resembled the ant in the pic:

1. Cardiocondyla emeryi

2. Cardiocondyla obscurior
3. Cardiocondyla wroughtonii

 

 

Cardiocondyla wroughtonii seems to be the least similar looking but I don't want to rule it out. Cardiocondyla emeryi is the closest looking to the ant in the pictures.