1. Location (on a map) of collection: Grand Haven Michigan, Under some cut wood planks for a fire.
2. Date of collection: July 4 2017
3. Habitat of collection: A forested area with scattered houses under some cut wood planks.
4. Length (from head to gaster): Around 10mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture:
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Workers bite
7. Distinguishing behavior: Cannot right themselves easily
8. Nest description: One large egg deposit and scattered tunnels.
I was at my aunt and uncles house for the 4th of July. My uncle has a decent sized fire pit for having camp fires, and then a small wood pile next to it. When he lifted one of the planks there was a pretty good sized nest with multiple winged ants. I wouldn't normally mess with an established nest, but this being under some fire wood that was about to be used, I gathered these two instead of them getting burnt. The rest of the nest and its eggs were on the ground so within a few minutes they had all moved.
I am thinking that they are pre flight though. One appears male and the other female. Either this or they settled the nest with multiple queens.
I can take more pictures if needed. I kind of realized how cloudy the plastic test tubes are.
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