8 replies to this topic

[marcel]

Hello,

 

a friend of mine collected a couple of queens during his day trip 5 days ago at an steppe like rockier area between California and Arizona.

 

The queens measure about 9 mm (0.35 inch) in length. They have a darkish-gray yellow color. The legs are lighter than the rest of the body.

 

Here are 2 pictures, with 1 zoomed in. I do not have 1 of those queens yet, but my friend will give me one these next days and I could take better quality pictures then.

 

http://www.formicult..._935_134285.jpg

 

http://www.formicult..._935_704747.png

 

 

Greetings,

 

Marcel

[VoidElecent]

Holy mother of god that's a lot of queens.

 

From the looks of it, they're all Lasius. Prenolepis usually fly in the beginning of the year, around March. I couldn't tell you what species it is, you'd need a guide (or wait for workers) to determine whether they're L. neoniger, L. alienus, L. pallitarsis, or L. flavus.

[marcel]

Okay. I always must smile when I read Lasius flavus or Lasius neoniger. Because those areas are like desert. Here in germany those 2 species Lasius flavus, Lasius neoniger (german version: Lasius niger, maybe sister species)  love very humid areas with almost all the time wet soil, much growth and they all hibernate for 5 months and face strong winter with snow.

 

What fascinates me the most is: From what I read you can find Lasius neoniger also in Washington and other areas with snow in winter and cold temperatures. It is hard to imagine how the same species can be in 1 area with hibernation and in 1 with no hibernation or just a 1-2 months maximum hibernation. The area those queens were found should be about 64-67 °F in December/January in average and with strong sunshine on certain colony locations even reach 75 °F + and that in winter. So there isn't a real hibernation maybe a lower activity but still some production and scouting. Interesting. I wonder if Lasius neoniger in the south of north america is actually the same Lasius neoniger as the ones you could find in the Northeast like New York, Washington, etc..

 

So you guys think this is most likely a Lasius species like neoniger. Is there any way like from coloring or Thorax width to identify which one?

[klawfran3]

"collected a couple of queens"

 

But yes those are definitely Lasius.

[Loops117]

Wow, teach me how you did this. lol

sooooo many queens!

 

Agreed with the rest, Lasius sp.

[marcel]

How can I find out if this is Lasius neoniger or any other one? which ones are common in Arizona and California and are darkish gray with a little yellow?

[marcel]

Today finally 2 queens arrived and I was able to measure and take pictures even 1 short video I will also link.

 

The queen measures about 1 cm (0.39 inch) in length.

 

I was able to get half way decent pictures from the top, front and side. Also the videos reveals a lot and is quite zoomed in.

 

Anyone can identify the queen now?

 

Pictures:

 

http://www.formicult...940_1884447.jpg

 

http://www.formicult...940_3647577.jpg

 

http://www.formicult...940_1013166.jpg

 

http://www.formicult...940_1239680.jpg

 

 

Video: 

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=gtXflCYklBc

[Evanthomas89]

Awesome find!

I want to say it looks like Lasius flavus but that might just be because I really want a L. flavus queen. I'm sure you'll be able to ID her once she has workers. 

[marcel]

What actually would speak against Myrmecocystus testaceus? I found a few pictures only and a few videos but they also look much Lasius like and should be at least 1 cm (0.39 inch) or slightly above right? The legs of my queen are also kind of yellow brownish and the size is a bit large for Lasius. The largest Lasius I know of is Lasius niger with 0.8 cm (0.31 inch). Or are by any chance the Lasius in north america almost as large as Serviformica? This is definately 1-2 mm larger than Lasius niger, too dark for flavus (have here many too + they are smaller in general). 

 

So which Lasius is actually about 0.39 inch long? It is about the same size as my Formica rufibarbis and 100% reaching Formica fusca in size.

 

Here 2 pictures to see the size comparison. Both test tubes have the same width and I can even see with my own eyes while holding it from different angles that they are about the same size.

 

The queens were found in California close to the border to Arizona, desert like area. And more than 100s could be easily dug out on that day.

 

Pictures: 

 

http://www.formicult...940_6190737.jpg

 

http://www.formicult...940_2206565.jpg

Edited by marcel, August 12 2017 - 9:39 AM.