9 replies to this topic

[ragingbananas]

Please Help me Identify this Queen:

 

1. Location of collection: West Valley City, Utah (Salt Lake County)

2. Date of collection 05.08.2017

3. Habitat of collection: Field, Tall Grass. dead trees. in a fallen tree Log. found nesting between the Bark and the wood of the fallen tree 

4. Length: 10-11mm

5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Dark to black gaster split into four by grayish lines. mesasoma is blood red. Head is also blood red but in a deeper hue.

6. Distinguishing characteristics: one petiole node, head is sightly wider then the mesasoma. 11 (i think) antennal Segments

7. Anything else distinctive NA

 

 

 

 

Edited by ragingbananas, May 8 2017 - 4:03 PM.

[Spamdy]

Camponotus spp.

[Martialis]

This is either Camponotus essigi or C. herculaneus.

Edited by Martialis, May 8 2017 - 4:11 PM.

[VoidElecent]

Yes! Another properly formatted ID thread i get so happy when I see these! I think this is either Camponotus decipiens, Camponotus hyatti, or Camponotus sayi.

[Aaron567]

This is either Camponotus essigi or C. herculaneus.

 

I agree.

 

Based off of size, it's most likely essigi. 

Edited by Aaron567, May 8 2017 - 4:27 PM.

[VoidElecent]

 

This is either Camponotus essigi or C. herculaneus.

 

I agree.

 

Based off of size, it's most likely essigi. 

 

 

Really? I always thought C. essigi was known for its distinct coloration & texture, like this (some loser's ID thread from a while back).

[ragingbananas]

So since the C. essigi suggestion I've been researching that Species. this really seems to fit. When i originally caught her i had dismissed the Componotus, because of how small she was (10mm is so much smaller then the 15mm one i just caught). Thanks for steering me back on track! I will of course look at any additional suggestions but to this point C. essigi makes the most sense.

 

FYI, I'm brand new to ant keeping so please excuse my newbie-ness

Edited by ragingbananas, May 8 2017 - 5:48 PM.

[Batspiderfish]

There are numerous other possibilities in the Myrmentoma subgenus than Camponotus essigi. C. nearcticus, C. hyatti, C. discolor, and C. decipiens should be discredited on a basis other than coloration.

[Martialis]

I'll look at those again, though they didn't seem correct.

[Batspiderfish]

The point is that I can't see the queen well enough to say it isn't one of these other options. Color varies in many ant species.