23 replies to this topic

[Nathant2131]

The queen in the first series of internet pictures is Lasius claviger, but the second two are both Lasius umbratus. If you use antwiki to look up Lasius nearcticus, you will find a picture of L. umbratus there, too. Lasius speculiventris has such a shiny gaster, you would know for sure if you saw it.

Hmm... Ok. I didn't know they were that shiny. That might confirm my 2 Cthonolasius queens as being L. umbratus. So VoidElecent, there's your I.D.; Lasius umbratus   

[VoidElecent]

I don't think we'll be able to meet up. 

 

Very interesting you refer to Lasius as hard to find. They are the most common genus in my area hands down. Lasius neoniger and Social Parasites in particular.

 

I consider Lasius hard to find merely from experience. Since I started anting, I rarely come across Lasius colonies. I don't believe I have ever clearly identified a Lasius or even parasitic Lasius colony. I ran into a Claviger nuptial flight once (which I got a pretty good video out of) but nothing too special. Claviger dealates are VERY common in my area, but I haven't found any Lasius or parasite workers running around like Tetramorium or Camponotus workers. Kinda bummed there are so many Claviger; I'm not too fond of the Acanthomyops "colony-takeover" techniques.

[VoidElecent]

 

The queen in the first series of internet pictures is Lasius claviger, but the second two are both Lasius umbratus. If you use antwiki to look up Lasius nearcticus, you will find a picture of L. umbratus there, too. Lasius speculiventris has such a shiny gaster, you would know for sure if you saw it.

Hmm... Ok. I didn't know they were that shiny. That might confirm my 2 Cthonolasius queens as being L. umbratus. So VoidElecent, there's your I.D.; Lasius umbratus   

 

My Cthonolasius is pretty darn shiny. I'll just leave her as "Cthonolasius" for now. Shouldn't make a huge difference.

[Nathant2131]

I don't think we'll be able to meet up. 
 
Very interesting you refer to Lasius as hard to find. They are the most common genus in my area hands down. Lasius neoniger and Social Parasites in particular.

 
I consider Lasius hard to find merely from experience. Since I started anting, I rarely come across Lasius colonies. I don't believe I have ever clearly identified a Lasius or even parasitic Lasius colony. I ran into a Claviger nuptial flight once (which I got a pretty good video out of) but nothing too special. Claviger dealates are VERY common in my area, but I haven't found any Lasius or parasite workers running around like Tetramorium or Camponotus workers. Kinda bummed there are so many Claviger; I'm not too fond of the Acanthomyops "colony-takeover" techniques.

Many If not all Social Parasites are subterranean. They are easy to find under small rocks in forests. Mostly dirt substrate. They make an overboard amount of tunnels, so if you are able to find a bunch of tunnels there will often only be a couple workers.