20 replies to this topic

[jdsaunders1390]

Album: 20170413 Dealate

4 images

0 comments

1. Location of collection: Gainesville, FL

2. Date of collection: April 13, 2017 1:30 PM, last rainstorm was about 1 week ago (though it is always humid and hot here!)
3. Habitat of collection: I found this dealate resting (not walking or moving) about two feet up from the ground on the vertical brick wall of my house. The area is surrounded by houses with small yards and some trees. 
4. Length: 9.5 mm (3/8")
5. Coloration: Bright red all over, mostly smooth texture.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 0-1 petiole node (unsure if the thing I saw is a petiole because it looks different from the spiky petioles on my Solenopsis queens), no spines, no clubs on antennae
 

 

 

[Martialis]

Definitely a queen, can you check measurements?

 

Edit:

I'm leaning toward Formica.

Edited by Martialis, April 13 2017 - 10:24 AM.

[jdsaunders1390]

I just double checked. Definitely 3/8", slightly larger than my 1/4" Solenopsis invicta queens. After a little research, I do not believe there are ants with 0 petioles, so this dealate probably has 1. There is definitely a nodule of sorts between the mesosoma and the gaster, it is just very rounded without the normal dorsal spike I am used to seeing on Solenopsis. Still have not found anything online that looks like her, but I will keep looking.

[Martialis]

I just double checked. Definitely 3/8", slightly larger than my 1/4" Solenopsis invicta queens. After a little research, I do not believe there are ants with 0 petioles, so this dealate probably has 1. There is definitely a nodule of sorts between the mesosoma and the gaster, it is just very rounded without the normal dorsal spike I am used to seeing on Solenopsis. Still have not found anything online that looks like her, but I will keep looking.

 

All ants have at least one petiole. Florida has five native Formica, and many are red. I believe it is one of those.

[Jamie_Garrison]

if you are in gainesville Fl go over and see Paul Skelley at DPI he has a synoptic collection of ants of florida...if you are interested in getting in touch with him PM me I have his number

[jdsaunders1390]

Still unsure of the species, however I have a few options for genera. Martialis mentioned Formica. I am also looking at Lasius and Polyergus as possibilities.

[Martialis]

Lasius is smaller and Polygerus has a very obvious petiole. If you take a picture from the side, without an angle, I think we can ID her.

[Spamdy]

My top guess would be a queen in the Forelius species my second guess would be Dorymyrmex queen. As both of these ants are found in the warmer regions of North America and both ants have spices that are the color of yours. Though Forelius has a more blackish gaster. Correct me if I'm wrong on anything as I am new to Ant keeping. This is my first post.

 

[Martialis]

 

My top guess would be a queen in the Forelius species my second guess would be Dorymyrmex queen. As both of these ants are found in the warmer regions of North America and both ants have spices that are the color of yours. Though Forelius has a more blackish gaster. Correct me if I'm wrong on anything as I am new to Ant keeping. This is my first post.

 

 

 

I believe both those Genera are much smaller than the provided length.

[jdsaunders1390]

Okay, I am pretty sure I added two more pictures to the album. I apologize for the poor quality, and hopefully they are good enough! She will not move her back legs out of the way to photograph the petiole.

 

She is a very chill queen. She didn't like it too much when I first caught her or when I moved her from the original tube to an actual test tube setup, but other than those two times, she has barely moved. I have shined a bright light on her to get a better look, and still barely any activity. She was also not moving or walking when I first found her (until I touched her). I hope that does not mean she is doing poorly. It is approximately 81F outside right now if that helps anyone.

 

I believe she has 11 antennae segments without clubs, though it is very tough for me to count them. She also has three small black dots (each approximately 1/3rd-1/4th the size of one of her eyes) in the middle of her head, above her eyes, arranged in a triangle that points down towards her mandibles.

[Jamie_Garrison]

ill be out looking for sure this weekend

Edited by Jamie_Garrison, April 13 2017 - 12:54 PM.

[Jonathan21700]

Formica in the pallidefulva group I think. Maybe F. biophilica or F. pallidefulva?

Edited by Jonathan21700, April 13 2017 - 12:55 PM.

[Martialis]

Formica in the pallidefulva group I think. Maybe F. biophilica or F. pallidefulva?

 

Exactly what I'm thinking.

[jdsaunders1390]

I think you are correct. Antweb.org says that F. biophilica is a more uniform bright red-yellow color, whereas F. pallidefulva is partially brown, which makes me think it is F. biophilica. However, F. pallidefulva is typically found more often in yards and lawns than F. biophilica. Any idea of what else I can use to distinguish the two?

[Martialis]

Your queen is odd.. almost like an intercaste gyne of some sort.

 

Edit: The correct term is Gynandromorphs. 

 

Here's a definition: 

 

Gynandromorphs:

 

Gynandromorphs are male-female mosaics.

Edited by Martialis, April 13 2017 - 1:45 PM.

[MrILoveTheAnts]

Good News! It's a girl...

 

Bad News! It's also a boy and sadly in the part that counts.

 

I would preserve this in alcohol because these little genetic flooks are the four leaf clovers of the ant world.

[jdsaunders1390]

How were you guys able to figure this out?

[Martialis]

The gaster is too small to be that of a queen's and resembles a male gaster. The ant resembles Campnotus castaeneus, but is too small. The head and mesosoma, however, are that of a queen. Preserve her and keep her as a specimen.

[jdsaunders1390]

Thank you for the explanation. I can see what you mean about the gaster. Question: If she actually is a queen, but has been mated for a while and is still struggling to find a home, could her gaster shrink to this size as she uses her reserve energy?
Regardless, I will likely keep him/her for a while to see if anything happens. I would hate to be wrong and kill her before she lays eggs!
I am interested in preserving not only her, but also collecting the different members of each species that I keep. I made another post in General trying to determine the best way to preserve specimens. (dry vs alcohol vs formaldehyde) If any of you have experience preserving ants, hop over to that post!

[Martialis]

I don't believe that the gaster could do that. She would be dead by the time she found an est if that was the case.