7 replies to this topic

[Bracchymyrmex]

 

 

location: Woods in Philadelphia, PA

date : 4/16/17

length: 2mm

distinguishing characteristics: distinguished pedicel nodes, polygynous queens

 

Found between the bark in a fallen log.

Edited by Bracchymyrmex, April 18 2017 - 8:33 AM.

[Alabama Anter]

Kind of looks like Monomorium or Temnothorax.

[Nathant2131]

Kind of looks like Monomorium or Temnothorax.

I agree, could be either.

[Kevin]

I know Vollenhovia is native to PA but I couldn't ID it with those pictures.

[Martialis]

They aren't native, but are present.

[MegaMyrmex]

I know that this is old but definitely Vollenhovia emeryi. I find colonies all the time underneath tight pieces of bark and the queen's body shape and the worker's slimness give it away

[VoidElecent]

I realized we never really followed up with this thread.

 

The colony we captured at Fort Washington State Park was most definitely Vollenhovia emeryi, there's no question about that. We kept them in a test tube set up with an outworld, but their worker count eventually dwindled away and the colony didn't make it. 

 

Next time we visit the park, I'll make sure to collect any decaying leaf litter or twigs, and hope they move out naturally when the twig dries out. This species is odd. I don't think they're invasive, because they haven't really spread from the few parks they inhabit in the Mid-Atlantic region. Although, they're surprising delicate; it may just be a factor of their size.

 

I might gather up some PA/NJ anters in the spring and head back to the park, to see what I can find.

Edited by VoidElecent, November 9 2017 - 6:01 AM.

[Mettcollsuss]

Looks like Vollenhovia to me.