3 replies to this topic

[Russell]

Hi All Again

 

   Western Canada is having a heat wave which has helped me find a number of queens right after flights. I have found 3 species in the last week and even 3 different queen species today. One if Formica but the two new ones today I would appreciate any help you can give IDing? See pics and descriptions below;

 

Queen 1

1,Location of collection: Victoria BC Canada. Esquimalt on sidewalk. 

2. Date of collection: June 25th/2017 Found 5 queens over the day. Most around 9am. 28 degrees Celsius aprox 41% humidity. 
3. Habitat of collection: Paver driveway and sidewalk. Urban area
4. Length (from head to gaster):7-8mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Shinny black head and thorax,red/orange legs, with a black and orange stripe Gaster, hear on head and body, red jaws, 
6. Distinguishing characteristics: 2 spikes pointing backwards on the thorax, 2 part petiole with one closest to thorax a pump and second one rounded. 
7. Distinguishing behavior: All queens walk oddly compared to other ants appearing to drag gasters. 
8. Nest description:  Unknown

 

Pics;

Album: June 25th Victoria BC Canada Black Ant Queen ID?

4 images

0 comments

 

 

Queen 2

1,Location of collection: Victoria BC Canada Esquimalt . Crossing driveway. Very fast and aggressive ant. 

2. Date of collection: June 25th/2017 Found 1 queen at 7;30pm. 23 degrees Celsius aprox 41% humidity. 
3. Habitat of collection: Paver driveway. Urban area
4. Length (from head to gaster):10mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Red/Orange read and thorax. Black legs. Black Gasters. 11 segments per antenna.Large single red spike petiole. 
6. Distinguishing characteristics: see pics and above. 
7. Distinguishing behaviour: Fast and peered very aggrieve when capturing. 
8. Nest description:  Unknown

 

Pics;  

 

Album: June 25th/17 Victoria BC Canada Red ant Id pics?

4 images

0 comments

 

Thank you for the help. 

Russell 

 

[VoidElecent]

Tetramorium Sp. E, Formica cf. ravida

[Russell]

Tetramorium Sp. E, Formica cf. ravida

That appears to match up so thank you!. Funny part is my family spent the day hunting for Formica thatching ants at a lake with hundreds of thatched nets and found no queens. A day later we see one running across our driveway. 

So I understand care for Tetramorium, but how do you care for Formica cf.ravida?. 

She is temporarily parasitic so if I leave her in a tube she will not lay correct?.

If she needs brood from other ants preferably Formica Fusa which I do not have can I give her brood from a Formica podzolia which I have several?. How best to do this,just take brood with a cue tip and move over or move my Formica

podzolia queen to new tube and put Ravida queen In?. 

Since my Formica podzolia are new(had for a few days only) and will only start laying this week do I need to feed the Ravida queen until I can give her brood?. 

 

Thanks for any direction on this. 

Russell 

[Batspiderfish]

Brood from any fusca-group Formica should be ok. They need to be in the pupal stage, though, so waiting on your other queens is not a great option.