12 replies to this topic

[FeedTheAnts]

1. Location of collection: Mid Tennessee
2. Date of collection: 6/5/2017
3. Habitat of collection: Under trees in a piece of rotting wood
4. Length (from head to gaster) :I don't know the length in millimeter but it appears to be a rather small species of camponotus
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Black and shiny
6. Distinguishing characteristics: It looks a lot like a large black crematogaster queen in shape and proportions
7. Distinguishing behavior: Nothing except that they hate cotton balls
8. Nest description: They appeared to be in a founding chamber

Edited by TennesseeAnts, June 7 2017 - 10:15 AM.

[Aquaexploder]

Definitely some form of Camponotus. Btw most Camponotus are not polygyne so you might want to try to separate them just in case. Closer pictures and mesurments would definitely help with further identification.

Edited by Aquaexploder, June 7 2017 - 10:30 AM.

[Nathant2131]

We need measurements to accurately ID these.

[FeedTheAnts]

they're 11 millimeters in length. I found these both in the same founding chamber, are you sure I should separate them? I like the idea of raising a polygnous colony.

[Nathant2131]

This looks like a Camponotus species in the subgenus Myrmentoma. I would seperate them as they are monogynous.

[VoidElecent]

This looks like a Camponotus in the Myrmentoma subgenus. You can read more about identification here, if you are interested in determining whether this C. caryae or C. nearcticus. I would say it's likely C. caryae given your location.

 

I don't think this species if particularly well known for it's polygyny, but colonies with more than one queen have been discovered. If you found them in the same chamber it's likely they know what they're doing- it's probably safe to keep them together.

 

edit: Upon further investigation (and reading Nathant's post), I don't think separating them could do any damage, you might as well not take any chances.

Edited by VoidElecent, June 7 2017 - 1:41 PM.

[FeedTheAnts]

Thanks! I looked up pictures of C.caryae, and the pictures definitely match the workers of a common species of carpenter ant in this area that I have never been able to ID.  

[Aquaexploder]

Good luck with your Queen!

[Nathant2131]

I have 4 of these queens myself- the egg to larvae stage is really fast.

[Batspiderfish]

If they were in the same founding chamber, I see no reason to separate them. There is relatively little information on polygyny and monogyny that is actually reliable.

Edited by Batspiderfish, June 7 2017 - 3:47 PM.

[Aquaexploder]

If they were in the same founding chamber, I see no reason to separate them. There is relatively little information on polygyny and monogyny that is actually reliable.

This is true and I recommend you keep a journal because you might have made a scientific discovery.

[FeedTheAnts]

Just wondering, is this a nocturnal species? I couldn't find much information on the web.

[Martialis]

Most Camponotus are nocturnal, yes.