20 replies to this topic

[Lessian]

First time ant keeper here requesting genus/species ID on a willdcaught Queen.

 

My partner found her while out and about with work and delivered her to me in a washed out coke bottle.

She is approx 11-12mm long and was found in pullenvale (south east queensland, west brisbane kinda area).  Apparently she was not far from a nest of small black garden type ants which were nesting alongside a road gutter.

Some people have said she looks like a Lasius, others say she looks like a camponotus.  any suggestions?

 

Also wondering what is a normal length of time between going in the test tube and laying eggs?  so far our girl has been in her tube for four days and still no sign of eggs yet.  We are keeping her in a warm dark place with the only disturbance is us genty uncovering her to check.

 

 

thankyou :-)

Edited by Lessian, November 11 2016 - 1:48 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

Camponotus sp.

[Lessian]

Camponotus sp.

Any idea what species?

Edited by Lessian, November 11 2016 - 6:41 AM.

[T.C.]

Camponotous for sure, maybe,Camponotus pennsylvanicus? I am not sure if they are in your area? Probably! Check out this video!

 

[Canadian anter]

Camponotous for sure, maybe,Camponotus pennsylvanicus? I am not sure if they are in your area? Probably! Check out this video!

TC this is Australia -_-

[fortysixandtwo]

 

Camponotous for sure, maybe,Camponotus pennsylvanicus? I am not sure if they are in your area? Probably! Check out this video!

TC this is Australia -_-

 

 

Yeah no C. pennsylvanicus in Oz methinks.

 

Definitely looks like a Camponotus though. 

 

Here is a key to Australian Camponotus species. I've never actually tried using a key from Ant wiki so I don't know how good it is, but there are a list of many species there that might be helpful.

 

http://www.antwiki.o...ponotus_species

Edited by fortysixandtwo, November 11 2016 - 4:39 PM.

[chickenman297]

I'm 99% sure she is a ponerine of some description. She looks identical to queen 2 here:

http://www.formicult...h-october-2016/

 

James C Trager seemed very sure queen 2 was a ponerine, but you will need to get some clear photos of various parts of the ant to be sure

 

 

[Nexus]

I see a Camponotus sp. Seeing the dozens of species of this genus  that exist in Australia, it is difficult to identify precisely the species, especially for non australians people.

Or we're gonna need better photos !

[gcsnelling]

Camponotus, not Ponerine.

Edited by gcsnelling, November 19 2016 - 7:44 AM.

[Kevin]

Definitely camponotus, by the shape of the head.

[Bcam43]

Most likely Camponotus aeneopilosus.

[Batspiderfish]

Most likely Camponotus aeneopilosus.

 

Too shiny for C. aeneopilosus. Better photographs will be needed to identify to the species level.

[AnthonyP163]

Most likely Camponotus aeneopilosus.

yeah, we need better pictures, and it can't be C. aeneopilosus.

[Lemon07]

Hey Lessian I sent u a PM but we must live relatively close to each other if u are collecting ants in pullenvale. it would be awsome to have someone in the hobby who lives nearby to share info etc

[CrazyLegs]

Raise her up and all will become clear when you see her workers

[Lessian]

To those who say she is not aeneopilosus, can you explain the reasoning?  Eg what is it that makes her not an aeneo?

[Batspiderfish]

To those who say she is not aeneopilosus, can you explain the reasoning?  Eg what is it that makes her not an aeneo?

 

Camponotus aeneopilosus has golden hairs all over its gaster. This queen's gaster seems too shiny, with few or no hairs. You don't identify to the species unless you can see it well enough to use a key.

[CrazyLegs]

I have recently found a very similar queen in a small nest under a brick. She only had five legs but moved around just fine. I collected her, some workers and larvae.

I would confidently call them aeneopilosis.

The queen doesn't have distinctive golden hairs all over her gaster like the workers, just thin gold bands.

The queen you have there looks a lot fatter though. I can't quite make out any gold at all.

Maybe the gold color disappears the larger the gaster stretches.

Edited by CrazyLegs, January 14 2017 - 10:27 PM.

[Batspiderfish]

That is a great lead! However, we are identifying the queen in the pictures above, which we cannot see clearly. We don't identify to the species unless we can follow the details in a key or description. Queensland has a LOT of Camponotus. For now, it is Camponotus sp.

Edited by Batspiderfish, January 15 2017 - 6:07 AM.

[Canadian anter]

wow. that is the skinniest Camponotus I have ever seen