This ant was caught at my school in Fremont, California. It's a suburban city next to a small mountain range. I live near Mission San Jose.
She was captured on 11/7/16, I never knew any queens flew this late. She landed right on my English paper.
My school is next to a small-ish creek, but is very dry where I caught her.
She is probably from 7-9 mm long, black, and the antennae are very much v-shaped, mandibles are on the small side, head is almost heart shaped.
The gaster was pretty small at first, just a little wider than the thorax, but has swollen a little.
Nearby, there appears to be some sort of Lasius colony. I didn't find the nest. However, the same day of the capture, there was what I think a nuptial flight of some unknown ant species. They were about 4-5 mm long, black with a hint of brown, and nested under some wood between 2 slabs of concrete. When my friend put one down my shirt it bit.
Currently housed in one chamber of an omni-nest large, sealed off with cotton and hydrated via the side sponges.
Pictures: I apologize for the bad pictures, they were shot on my phone, had glare, and the queen wasn't very cooperative. I will probably try to take some better pictures eventually.
http://s1380.photobu...html?sort=3&o=0
http://s1380.photobu...html?sort=3&o=2
Edited by Californian Anter, November 12 2016 - 8:45 PM.