16 replies to this topic

[T.C.]

1. Location of collection: Wisconsin
2. Date of collection: 3/16/17
3. Habitat of collection: The bark they were found under, was originally from the woods, then placed in our yard.
4. Length (from head to gaster):WORKERS A little over 1/4 of a centimeter.
5. Color, hue, pattern aND texture: Light brown.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: N/A
7. Distinguishing behavior: I noticed these ants would full blown out Walk backwards, and I was not seeing things. I am dead serious.
8. Nest description: Under bark of log.Very moist

Ok, so this is a colony I found today, under bark of a log I got from the woods. They were hibernating in a big pile. I can not say if there was a queen because I just flipped the the bark over and dumped them in the jar. A lot of larvae and eggs, and I would say there was 300-400 workers.

[Canadian anter]

Looks like Tapinoma sessile

[Nathant2131]

Looks a lot like Lasius neoniger to me. Coloration is off for T. sessile.

Edited by Nathant2131, March 16 2017 - 2:43 PM.

[Canadian anter]

Could be one of the smaller Lasius

[MrILoveTheAnts]

I was thinking Lasius alienus. Their young larva should be covered in prickly hairs.

Edited by MrILoveTheAnts, March 16 2017 - 2:55 PM.

[Nathant2131]

I was thinking Lasius alienus. Their larva should be thorny if they are.

L. alienus can have light brown coloration?

[MrILoveTheAnts]

 

I was thinking Lasius alienus. Their larva should be thorny if they are.

L. alienus can have light brown coloration?

 

I wouldn't call this light brown and I've never known L. neoniger to nest in wood.

[Canadian anter]

The larvae look smooth to me

[Batspiderfish]

I second Lasius alienus. In North America, they love nesting under bark. The way to tell for sure is to get a good image of their antennal scapes.

[T.C.]

I second Lasius alienus. In North America, they love nesting under bark. The way to tell for sure is to get a good image of their antennal scapes.

I'll try to get a good picture of their antanne. If I can't get a good pic of the antannea, what should I be looking for?

[Batspiderfish]

 

I second Lasius alienus. In North America, they love nesting under bark. The way to tell for sure is to get a good image of their antennal scapes.

I'll try to get a good picture of their antanne. If I can't get a good pic of the antannea, what should I be looking for?

 

 
Standing hairs on the antennal scapes.

Edited by Batspiderfish, March 16 2017 - 6:11 PM.

[T.C.]

Ok, they do have those hairs on the antennae, you are speaking of after close inspection. So I believe I can go with lasius alienus then?

Also any advice on how to get them out of that jar?

[Batspiderfish]

Ok, they do have those hairs on the antennae, you are speaking of after close inspection. So I believe I can go with lasius alienus then?

Also any advice on how to get them out of that jar?

Standing hairs or appressed hairs? Can you take a picture?

[T.C.]

Jar is too dirty to get a clean shot, and If I open the lid I am gonna have a mess on my hands. I might be able to get a shot once I move them. However I can tell you that the hairs on the antannea are more so standing than appressed. They come straight out.

[Batspiderfish]

Interesting. We'll have to look at the teeth on the mandibles next. Lasius alienus has no standing hairs on its scapes. This would indicate Lasius neoniger or Lasius pallitarsis. When you say "antennae", you do mean the scapes, the long first segment which attaches to the head, right?

Edited by Batspiderfish, March 17 2017 - 1:39 PM.

[Nathant2131]

I had a feeling these were neoniger or pallitarsis. (Not trying to rub it in or anything though)

[T.C.]

When you say "antennae", you do mean the scapes, the long first segment which attaches to the head, right?

That would be correct.