7 replies to this topic

[Owenhans]

6mm
Found in large,grassless dirt area.
Dark brown with light brown to dark red in some areas around legs.
Large gaster in proportion to the mesozoma.

Images
http://imgur.com/VHRc3gf

[VoidElecent]

My initial guess would be Solenopsis invicta, however I'm fairly certain fire ant queens are usually a little longer, in the 7-9 mm range. You should go ahead and double check the measurements, just to be sure. This could always be a smaller species of Solenopsis though, but by the looks of it I'm fairly certain it's Solenopsis invicta. Nevertheless, some more pictures and a much more detailed description of the conditions you caught the queen in would be ideal.

[Owenhans]

My initial guess would be Solenopsis invicta, however I'm fairly certain fire ant queens are usually a little longer, in the 7-9 mm range. You should go ahead and double check the measurements, just to be sure. This could always be a smaller species of Solenopsis though, but by the looks of it I'm fairly certain it's Solenopsis invicta. Nevertheless, some more pictures and a much more detailed description of the conditions you caught the queen in would be ideal.

Solenopsis Invicta queens normally have a distinct red area where the mesozoma and gaster meet, this queen does not have that.

[Owenhans]

My initial guess would be Solenopsis invicta, however I'm fairly certain fire ant queens are usually a little longer, in the 7-9 mm range. You should go ahead and double check the measurements, just to be sure. This could always be a smaller species of Solenopsis though, but by the looks of it I'm fairly certain it's Solenopsis invicta. Nevertheless, some more pictures and a much more detailed description of the conditions you caught the queen in would be ideal.

Upon remeasuring, it is 8mm, not exactly sure how I got 6mm the first time.

[VoidElecent]

 

My initial guess would be Solenopsis invicta, however I'm fairly certain fire ant queens are usually a little longer, in the 7-9 mm range. You should go ahead and double check the measurements, just to be sure. This could always be a smaller species of Solenopsis though, but by the looks of it I'm fairly certain it's Solenopsis invicta. Nevertheless, some more pictures and a much more detailed description of the conditions you caught the queen in would be ideal.

Solenopsis Invicta queens normally have a distinct red area where the mesozoma and gaster meet, this queen does not have that.

 

 

I see what you mean. You may want to consider Solenopsis geminata.

[Aaron567]

Solenopsis invicta queens vary in color quite a lot. I find tons of invicta queens and depending on their genetics they can vary in size by 1-2mm and also definitely vary in color, with some having half of their gaster orange and some not having any orange at all.

 

This is definitely Solenposis invicta. Also, you most likely wouldn't find S. geminata in NC

Edited by Aaron567, May 11 2017 - 5:41 PM.

[VoidElecent]

Solenopsis invicta queens vary in color quite a lot. I find tons of invicta queens and depending on their genetics they can vary in size by 1-2mm and also definitely vary in color, with some having half of their gaster orange and some not having any orange at all.

 

This is definitely Solenposis invicta. Also, you most likely wouldn't find S. geminata in NC

 

Toldya so!

 

We don't get much fire ant activity in the Northeast, if you couldn't tell...

[Owenhans]

Thanks guys! I appreciate it!