5 replies to this topic

[Thomas]

1. Location Mesa, Arizona. USA
2. Date of collection: July 21 2017
3. Habitat of collection: residential desert, 2 hours after a rain.
4. Length ~7.5mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: mostly amber with the gaster being very dark brown with golden yellow in between like a bee.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: two petiole nodes, paddle or club shaped antenna. Can't count the segments because it moves its head continuously. maybe about 12.
7. Distinguishing behavior:None yet.
8. Nest description: It likes water, It is raising the brood in the wettest part of the tube, a clump of about five or six looks like. large eyes

Laid eggs about two days after I found it, I have a stereo scope to look at it with but no camera. One picture from my phone.

 

[FeedTheAnts]

Take better pictures please. Probably Pheidole.

[cpman]

Are you able to count the segments in the club of the antenna?

[Thomas]

Tenn.ants, Thanks so much, I think you nailed it, Pheidole tepicana is very much like the queen. I wasn't able to find a picture of a queen though.

As far as me posting a better picture, it is impossible for now. I have no camera but the phone and I try not to disturb her if I can help it.

Cpman I haven't done that yet, but it will be a main plan when I can.

[cpman]

Tenn.ants, Thanks so much, I think you nailed it, Pheidole tepicana is very much like the queen. I wasn't able to find a picture of a queen though.
As far as me posting a better picture, it is impossible for now. I have no camera but the phone and I try not to disturb her if I can help it.
Cpman I haven't done that yet, but it will be a main plan when I can.

If it is Pheidole, the club should have 3 segments. I couldn't tell if there were any spines on the mesosoma though. If it has no spines on the mesosoma (on Pheidole queens, they can be pretty small) and a two segmented club, it's probably Solenopsis.

Edited by cpman, July 26 2017 - 7:53 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

If Pheidole, you won't be able to identify to the species at a glance, and you may not get a proper chance at all until both castes of workers arrive. Providing more than one photograph, from different angles, would help us confirm the genus.