12 replies to this topic

[Lemon07]

Body:
1. Location of collection: Mt Cootha bushwalking trail

2. Date of collection: 7 Jan 17
3. Habitat of collection: Eeucalyptus forest
4. Length: 10mm
5. Coloration: Head: Black , Thorax Black then in the middle is orange and then black at the end , Gaster orange that transitions into black at the tip
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Large eyes positioned at the top corners of the head, jittery/ jerky steps
7. Anything else distinctive : NIL
8. Nest description: Unknown
 

Other Comments:

Based on the colouration, the position of the eyes and how the ant moves I'm fairly confident that she is Opisthopsis However i wasnt able to determine the species possibly rufithorax but i wasnt sure what do you guys think

 

[Nexus]

Sorry to disappoint but this is clearly not an Opisthopsis: the color may match but the morphology doesn't. Judging by these photos, I'd say this queen belongs to the Camponotus genus, at first sight I would have said Camponotus consobrinus but with a closer look, the colors don't correspond exactly. I'll try a little more digging later.

[Lemon07]

Sorry to disappoint but this is clearly not an Opisthopsis: the color may match but the morphology doesn't. Judging by these photos, I'd say this queen belongs to the Camponotus genus, at first sight I would have said Camponotus consobrinus but with a closer look, the colors don't correspond exactly. I'll try a little more digging later.

that's unfortunate i felt her eyes and movement were extremely similar to what i had seen in opisthopis but I'm not the most experienced with identify queens so you may be right

[Canadian anter]

This is also definitely a Camponotus species

[antgenius123]

It could possibly be a morph of Camponotus Consobrinus species. I'm not too sure but I did a little research and I came up with these pictures:   http://imgur.com/a/KFYRb

                                                                                                                                                                                                                http://imgur.com/a/pCbHw

[Lemon07]

It could possibly be a morph of Camponotus Consobrinus species. I'm not too sure but I did a little research and I came up with these pictures:   http://imgur.com/a/KFYRb

                                                                                                                                                                                                                http://imgur.com/a/pCbHw

if we arent able to determine the species from just the queen i will update u guys in a month or so with pictures of nanitics ( assuming she is mated ) and we can maybe go from there ?

[antgenius123]

 

It could possibly be a morph of Camponotus Consobrinus species. I'm not too sure but I did a little research and I came up with these pictures:   http://imgur.com/a/KFYRb

                                                                                                                                                                                                                http://imgur.com/a/pCbHw

if we arent able to determine the species from just the queen i will update u guys in a month or so with pictures of nanitics ( assuming she is mated ) and we can maybe go from there ?

 

Good idea

[antgenius123]

 

It could possibly be a morph of Camponotus Consobrinus species. I'm not too sure but I did a little research and I came up with these pictures:   http://imgur.com/a/KFYRb

                                                                                                                                                                                                                http://imgur.com/a/pCbHw

if we arent able to determine the species from just the queen i will update u guys in a month or so with pictures of nanitics ( assuming she is mated ) and we can maybe go from there ?

 

Or you can leave this to one of the other members.

[Nexus]

Again,to me she belongs to the Camponotus nigriceps group but is difficult to distinguish the species of this group without a proper key. Here's a key if you want to identify the precise species of your ant: https://www.research..._from_Australia

[T.C.]

Just so you are aware I am still learning myself. However once again I have to agree with Nexus. Other than some of the colors don't seem to quite match up, I think the best guess would be Camponotus nigriceps group.  However take anyone's advice here over my mine.

[CrazyLegs]

She would be a lot larger than 10mm if she were a Camponotus nigriceps.

Her eye also looks particularly large.

Unfortunately Australia has a massive list of Camponotus and only the most common and easily recognizable ever seem to get proper identification.

Edited by CrazyLegs, January 25 2017 - 2:24 PM.

[Lemon07]

After her nanitics arrived i am 100% confident that she is Opisthopsis sp. thanks for trying to help earlier though

 

[Connectimyrmex]

Now that I look at her, she does have those eyes.