4 replies to this topic

[Scrixx]

Queen 1

 

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Yucca Valley, CA.

2. Date of collection: Aug. 4 2017
3. Habitat of collection: Desert
4. Length (from head to gaster): 14mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Yellow-orange with a lighter yellow abdomen and a darker orange thorax.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Looks very smooth with a few small hairs all over.
7. Distinguishing behavior: N/A
8. Nest description: N/A

 

 

 

Queen 2

 

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Yucca Valley, California.

2. Date of collection: Aug. 4 2017
3. Habitat of collection: Desert with dry grass and bushes.
4. Length (from head to gaster): 12mm
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Orange abdomen with a dark-brown thorax and head.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: has fine hair all over.
7. Distinguishing behavior: N/A
8. Nest description: N/A

 

 

Edited by Scrixx, August 9 2017 - 7:59 AM.

[Martialis]

The first one reminds me of M. navajo. I think the second is Myrmecocystus wheeleri.

[T.C.]

They sure are beautiful.

[dspdrew]

The first one I'm pretty sure is Myrmecocystus mexicanus, and the second is probably M. mimicus. There are a few species that have queens that size and color, so without looking at it through a microscope or seeing their workers, there's no way to know for sure.

[Scrixx]

The first one reminds me of M. navajo. I think the second is Myrmecocystus wheeleri.

 

I think M. navajo would be smaller. Second one is one of the diurnal species probably cause of the dark coloring.

 

They sure are beautiful.

 

Yep! I especially love how they look when held up to the sun.

 

The first one I'm pretty sure is Myrmecocystus mexicanus, and the second is probably M. mimicus. There are a few species that have queens that size and color, so without looking at it through a microscope or seeing their workers, there's no way to know for sure.

 

My first thought was M. mexicanus cause of the size. I heard they're twice as big as M. navajo so it makes sense. Doubling this ant would be absurdly large so I assumed its on the large end of the spectrum. For the second one I guess we'll have to wait for workers to see if its a mimicus or not. 

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone.