6 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

1. Location of collection: Trabuco Canyon, California.
2. Date of collection: 7-24-2014.
3. Habitat of collection: Chaparral/Oak Forest.
4. Length (from head to gaster): 5mm.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Head and thorax rugose; brown head, redish-orange thorax, dark brown gaster.
6. Distinguishing characteristics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

worker

 

 

 

 

 

Edit: Added microscope pictures of one of this queen's nanitic workers.

Edited by dspdrew, June 3 2015 - 12:42 AM.

[Gregory2455]

How do you keep finding all these cool things? 

[dspdrew]

Black light.

[Gregory2455]

I have been looking for a good one, where did you get it?

[dspdrew]

Walmart sells them for pretty cheap.

[dspdrew]

James C. Trager believes this to be a big Temnothorax sp.

[dspdrew]

I added microscope pictures of one of the nanitic workers, and now I can see this queen is Temnothorax caguatan. The only two Temnothorax species in California with 11 antennal segments, and propodeal spines this long are T. caguatan and T. rugatulus, according to AntWiki. Apparently T. caguatan have a slightly longer, more obtuse petiole node and thicker hind femur. This can clearly be seen when comparing the pictures on AntWeb.

 

This diagram I made shows the difference between the petiole nodes.

 

 

Here is the profile view of one of this queen's nanitics. I think you can clearly see it has the longer petiole node. It also has a pretty bulky hind femur.