16 replies to this topic

[Spamdy]

Houston, Texas 8/29/17 

 

 1. Location: Suburban neighborhood (park/trail) Katy Texas, USA

 

 2. Date of collection (found) : 8/29/17

 

 3. Habitat: Found in cut grass with pesticides, flat plain

 

 4. Length: Not exact but I can compare, bigger than the size of an Solenopsis Minor, about 15 mm or less.

 

 5. Coloration, Hue, Pattern, Texture: Reddish Head, Velvet Thorax, and a bit of black on the gaster.

 

 6. Distinguishing characteristics: 2 petiole nodes, Head shape looks a bit like a Pheidole Major, 2 visible antenne segments.

 

 7. They seem to forage by themselves, very fast and found near Solenopsis invicta nests. 

 

 8.Nest Description: Chunks of dirt, nest is very wide with several nest entrances leading into the nest. On the rim of the nest dead Solenopsis invicta corpses everywhere. They tend to nest near suburban buildings where there is cut grass and Solenopsis invicta nests present.

 

Comparison to Solenopsis invicta minors.

 

 

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

EDIT:  I don't know why it shows 2 pictures but when I edit it, it only shows one picture, sorry.

Edited by Spamdy, September 4 2017 - 10:42 AM.

[T.C.]

Houston texas? Why aren't you and them ants drowning!?!?

[Martialis]

That looks like an Atta to me. 

 

Ya, why aren't you floating?!

[Spamdy]

Houston texas? Why aren't you and them ants drowning!?!?

 

That looks like an Atta to me. 

 

Ya, why aren't you floating?!

 

Ha ha, I live in a new community and live on higher ground, all the water that rains here flows to different places, we had lots of rain, but we never went over 1 inch of rain on our streets. Even though it didn't flood, Solenopsis took quite a hit, there were dead minors and majors everywhere in every sidewalk crack.

 

I first thought it was Atta, but it was too fast for Atta, and the texture of the ant was smooth and had no spikes that Atta show, I've seen Atta before and that's not what they look like.

But I could be wrong, if someone could confirm Atta or something else that would be great!

 

Thanks anyway!

Edited by Spamdy, August 30 2017 - 3:01 PM.

[VoidElecent]

Pogonomyrmex cf. rugosus.

Edited by VoidElecent, August 30 2017 - 3:01 PM.

[Spamdy]

Pogonomyrmex cf. rugosus.

And...That was my second guess.

[Aaron567]

This looks more like a Pheidole obscurithorax major to me.. and that species has been recorded somewhat near your area.

Edited by Aaron567, August 30 2017 - 3:48 PM.

[VoidElecent]

A 15 millimeter myrmecine major is pretty indicative of Pogonomyrmex, if not a leaf-cutter. 

[Aaron567]

A 15 millimeter myrmecine major is pretty indicative of Pogonomyrmex, if not a leaf-cutter. 

 

But would a 15mm ant look like that next to S. invicta minors? If that ant was 15mm, those invicta must be at least 10mm 

[Mettcollsuss]

Pogonomyrmex cf. rugosus.

 

Something that I've been wondering about for a while: what does the cf. between the latin names mean? I've seen it used with many ant species, many of which aren't related.

[Martialis]

It means "confrere," which roughly translates to "compared to."

Edited by Martialis, August 31 2017 - 4:33 AM.

[Mettcollsuss]

It means "confrere," which roughly translates to "compared to."

 

so, you use it if you're fairly certain about the ID, but not 100% certain?

[FeedTheAnts]

Trachymyrmex?

[Spamdy]

Trachymyrmex?

Nope. 

 

A 15 millimeter myrmecine major is pretty indicative of Pogonomyrmex, if not a leaf-cutter. 

 

 

A 15 millimeter myrmecine major is pretty indicative of Pogonomyrmex, if not a leaf-cutter. 

 

But would a 15mm ant look like that next to S. invicta minors? If that ant was 15mm, those invicta must be at least 10mm 

 

So sorry, my measurements were way off, much smaller 5-10 mm. 

 I was playing Tennis the other day and found a nest where these majors were present, since these ants are so fast and blend in with the soil, I couldn't take pictures, but I did get a video of them. I am fairly certain that Aaron's ID was correct again, sorry if my measurements were off. These ants seem to always be around Solenopsis invicta nests which have been recorded before in the past. Also their aggressiveness are shown with huge piles of dead Solenopsis invicta corpses. There is one thing that I doubt that this actually Pheidole obscurithorax is that there is only one record in all of Texas in North Houston so they are exotic to my area. I have seen several of these nests and workers all around where I live. I will be adding the information to my original post. 

Here is the link to the video which you can see the majors posted in the original post and the minors. The are all long legged and fast.

https://youtu.be/39TwCUHqh2s

 

Can anyone confirm or prove this ID wrong? Thanks.

Edited by Spamdy, September 4 2017 - 10:46 AM.

[VoidElecent]

Piles of S. invicta corpses? Brutal!

 

I'm sticking with Pogonomyrmex.

[Spamdy]

Piles of S. invicta corpses? Brutal!

 

I'm sticking with Pogonomyrmex.

Are you sure? I haven't seen Pogonomyrmex personally but the pictures don't match up with what I saw, Pogonomyrmex seem to have a more bulkier shape with a bigger head, these workers had small heads and skinny body shape.

[VoidElecent]

 

Piles of S. invicta corpses? Brutal!

 

I'm sticking with Pogonomyrmex.

Are you sure? I haven't seen Pogonomyrmex personally but the pictures don't match up with what I saw, Pogonomyrmex seem to have a more bulkier shape with a bigger head, these workers had small heads and skinny body shape.

 

 

I seemed to have missed your comment about the size! I think Aaron's right, P. obscurithorax does seem to match up.