14 replies to this topic

[jdsaunders1390]

Hey guys. I found this winged creature today on a sidewalk near a forested area in Gainesville Florida. It is 3 mm (1/8") without wings, uniform dark color. Anyway, I'm not conviced it is even a queen. Perhaps it is a drone, or maybe not even an ant? I did not want to toss it back out just in case it is a queen! I posted some pictures. It was tough to do because of its small size and quick movement. I slowed it down a couple of times in the fridge, but still tough.
(Side question: What is the size of the smallest ant species queen?)

[jdsaunders1390]

Album: 20170415 Mystery Ant

10 images

0 comments

[Runner12]

Looks like a queen, possibly Trachymyrmex septentrionalis, need some closer pics though, might also be Cyphomyrmex rimosus

Edited by Runner12, April 15 2017 - 5:44 PM.

[jdsaunders1390]

Are those always red? The specimen I have is all black.

[Runner12]

Might be Cyphomyrmex then, couldn't tell the color 100% from the pic, try comparing it to them

[jdsaunders1390]

It does look similar. Looks like that species is semi-claustral and a fungus grower. That sounds tough...

[Alabama Anter]

Idk looks like a wasp. Especially the anntenae.

[Runner12]

Yeah I've never had success with the fungus growers around here to be honest.

[Batspiderfish]

Cyphomyrmex minutus

[jdsaunders1390]

If it is a semi-claustral fungus grower, any advice?

[Batspiderfish]

There is not much free information on these fungus growers, but this topic may be of interest: http://www.formicult...nt-lab-colonies

Edited by Batspiderfish, April 15 2017 - 8:36 PM.

[Vanko]

Next time upload 2 good photos instead of 10 bad!

[Batspiderfish]

Next time upload 2 good photos instead of 10 bad!

 

Some people are just learning or don't have access to the right equipment.

 

Constructively, the photos are underexposed (the shutter speed was too fast and the white paper looks great, but the ant is way too dark). Choosing a different background might make things easier if the shutter speed is too difficult to control.

Edited by Batspiderfish, April 16 2017 - 5:59 AM.

[Vanko]

Dude, you could have a camera for 200$ and still make better photos than someone with a camera for 2000$.
Don't you agree?

[Batspiderfish]

Dude, you could have a camera for 200$ and still make better photos than someone with a camera for 2000$.
Don't you agree?

 

Of course! Extension tubes and reversing/coupling rings are the greatest, but the issue with these photographs was so simple to explain that I did it with roughly the same effort. There are a lot of cheap and very effective alternatives to expensive equipment, but it still takes time and energy to understand them. I appreciate that a lot of people don't have a background in photography or $200 to drop on a camera body, flash, and/or a couple lenses that they might need at the exact time they wish to identify an ant.