7 replies to this topic

[Siddharth]

I caught this ant while out hunting for queens. It had wings but after about half an hour in its test-tube setup, it lost its wings. I would like to know if this is a queen ant or a drone, and what species it is. I have also included a list of ant species found in my area acc. to a survey done in 2009. as well as pics of the ant.

 

1. Location of collection: Concrete pavement, Mumbai-Maharashtra-India

2. Date and time of collection: 10:30 AM, 02April2017

3.Habitat of collection: lightly forested area near residential buildings. Specimen found on Concrete pavement

4. Length: 4-5mm

5.Coloration: reddish orange body with large, black gaster. gaster shows off-white bands.

 

Images of the ant: 

Spoiler

 

Here is a checklist of the ant species found in my area acc. to a survey done in 2009 (I can't find any surveys done more recently than that)

Spoiler

 

Anoplolepes gracilipes

Camponotus angusticollis

C. compressus

C. irritans

Crematogaster ransonneti

Cre. subduna

Leptogenys chinensis

Monomorium pharonis

Oecophylla smaragdina

Paratrachina longicornis

Pheidole sp.

Solenopsis geminata

Tapinoma melanocephalum

Technomyrmex albipes

Tetramorium smithi

Tetraponera allaborans

Tetraponera rufonigra

 

If clearer images are needed, I'll try my best to get better images. 

Edited by Siddharth, April 1 2017 - 10:34 PM.

[thosaka]

It looks like a queen. I don't think drones have such a huge abdomen. I could be wrong because I am a beginner still.

[Alabama Anter]

It is definitely a queen. We will need better pictures for a ID Sid.
My guess though is Crematogaster, Pheidole, or Solenopsis

[Salmon]

I second Solenopsis.

[Jonathan21700]

Monomorium or Solenopsis are my guesses.

[Siddharth]

Monomorium or Solenopsis are my guesses.

I'm pretty sure it's Monomorium its too small and the gaster's the wrong shape for it to be Solenopsis.

[Salmon]

Looks like the right shape for a smaller Solenopsis to me.

[Jonathan21700]

We need a closer view at the antennae.