18 replies to this topic

[VoidElecent]

1. Location of collection: Horsham, Pennsylvania. (Carpenter Park, if you'd like to Google it: 1000 Horsham Rd, Ambler, PA 19002)

2. Date of collection: September 5th, 2016.

3. Habitat of collection: Wooded, suburban area. Artificial, sandy trails but no other traces of natural sand around the park.

4. Length (from head to gaster): Approx. 9 mm to 1 cm.

5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Dark brown with reflective gaster, looks lighter and slightly yellowish in direct light.

6. Distinguishing characteristics: Reflective gaster, lightly colored legs.

7. Distinguishing behavior: Just normal queen stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary.

8. Nest description: Well, she's living in a test tube if that qualifies...

My brother and I caught this queen during fall of last year, and just assumed she was neoniger. Upon learning that Lasius queens are actually pretty difficult to ID, I've narrowed it down to five species:

1. (Niger-group) Lasius neoniger

2. (Niger-group) Lasius alienus

3. (Niger-group) Lasius pillisartis

4. (Flavus-group) Lasius nearcticus

5. (Flavus-group) Lasius flavus

I've taken some pictures, but they're not great. I also attempted to capture some footage of her mandibles underneath a microscope I found in my house but the pictures were extremely difficult, almost impossible to get with an iPhone camera. I'll post the pics anyways though. I apologize for them in advance.

 

[Kevin]

I'm guessing it is Lasius neoniger. I have like 20 L. neoniger, pretty easy to recognize. 

[Batspiderfish]

I cannot see hairs on the antennal scapes, but the mandibles, time of year, and size point to Lasius neoniger.

[VoidElecent]

I cannot see hairs on the antennal scapes, but the mandibles, time of year, and size point to Lasius neoniger.

 

I mainly focused on getting good images of her mandibles when I photographed her; I can take better pictures of her antennal scapes if it would make identification easier.

[Batspiderfish]

 

I cannot see hairs on the antennal scapes, but the mandibles, time of year, and size point to Lasius neoniger.

 

I mainly focused on getting good images of her mandibles when I photographed her; I can take better pictures of her antennal scapes if it would make identification easier.

 

 

I really don't think this is Lasius alienus, but having no hairs on the scapes is how you distinguish that species from L. pallitarsis and L. neoniger.

Edited by Batspiderfish, March 12 2017 - 4:57 PM.

[VoidElecent]

 

 

I cannot see hairs on the antennal scapes, but the mandibles, time of year, and size point to Lasius neoniger.

 

I mainly focused on getting good images of her mandibles when I photographed her; I can take better pictures of her antennal scapes if it would make identification easier.

 

 

I really don't think this is Lasius alienus, but having no hairs on the scapes is how you distinguish that species from L. pallitarsis and L. neoniger.

 

 

I see. So how do you distinguish between L. Pillitarsis and L. neoniger?

[Batspiderfish]

 

 

 

I cannot see hairs on the antennal scapes, but the mandibles, time of year, and size point to Lasius neoniger.

 

I mainly focused on getting good images of her mandibles when I photographed her; I can take better pictures of her antennal scapes if it would make identification easier.

 

 

I really don't think this is Lasius alienus, but having no hairs on the scapes is how you distinguish that species from L. pallitarsis and L. neoniger.

 

 

I see. So how do you distinguish between L. Pillitarsis and L. neoniger?

 

 

Lasius neoniger has seven teeth on its mandibles which tend to alternate in size. Lasius pallitarsis has those seven teeth also, but their basal tooth (the one furthest up the mandible) is usually higher up, at an odd angle, or is so reduced that it appears to be absent.

Edited by Batspiderfish, March 12 2017 - 7:38 PM.

[Nathant2131]

The large size and darkish color yells niger-group, the absence of an offset basal tooth eliminates pallitarsis, and no erect hairs on the scape point to Lasius neoniger.

Edited by Nathant2131, March 13 2017 - 2:41 AM.

[Canadian anter]

Lasius neoniger

[Batspiderfish]

The large size and darkish color yells niger-group, the absence of an offset basal tooth eliminates pallitarsis, and no erect hairs on the scape point to Lasius neoniger.

 

No erect hairs points to Lasius alienus, but I think this is a feature of the photograph and not the ant.

Edited by Batspiderfish, March 13 2017 - 7:07 AM.

[Alabama Anter]

Ok I will go with another WAG, but I do think it is Lasius neoniger. I bet that Void caught it when she was hibernating.

[VoidElecent]

Ok I will go with another WAG, but I do think it is Lasius neoniger. I bet that Void caught it when she was hibernating.

 

She was not hibernating. She was walking on a trail, presumably searching for a spot to establish a founding chamber.

 

The large size and darkish color yells niger-group, the absence of an offset basal tooth eliminates pallitarsis, and no erect hairs on the scape point to Lasius neoniger.

 

No erect hairs points to Lasius alienus, but I think this is a feature of the photograph and not the ant.

 

 

I can take some better pictures this afternoon when I get home, let me know what parts of the ant I should prioritize capturing in high quality.

[Nathant2131]

 

The large size and darkish color yells niger-group, the absence of an offset basal tooth eliminates pallitarsis, and no erect hairs on the scape point to Lasius neoniger.

 
No erect hairs points to Lasius alienus, but I think this is a feature of the photograph and not the ant.

Whoops. That was what I meant.

Edited by Nathant2131, March 13 2017 - 2:41 PM.

[Alabama Anter]

Exactly, Void. She probably was looking to dig her chamber after she was in hibernation.

[Nathant2131]

Exactly, Void. She probably was looking to dig her chamber after she was in hibernation.

Actually, Lasius neoniger usually dig their claustral cells before cold-season. I Believe he means he found her before hibernation  

[Batspiderfish]

Exactly, Void. She probably was looking to dig her chamber after she was in hibernation.

 

The queen was collected in September, which is a common time for these ants to fly.

[Alabama Anter]

 

Exactly, Void. She probably was looking to dig her chamber after she was in hibernation.

 

The queen was collected in September, which is a common time for these ants to fly.

 

Oh oopsies  didn't read too carefully

[VoidElecent]

So just to clarify, we've pretty much eliminated L. pillisartis as an option; the lack of an offset basal tooth is an indication of either alienus or neoniger. I can take some more detailed photos of her antennal scapes to try to locate any erect hairs, if that would help.

 

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it.

[Nathant2131]

So just to clarify, we've pretty much eliminated L. pillisartis as an option; the lack of an offset basal tooth is an indication of either alienus or neoniger. I can take some more detailed photos of her antennal scapes to try to locate any erect hairs, if that would help.

 

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it.

Correct. Getting some shots of the scape with light is what is the desicion maker of the two leftover species.