12 replies to this topic

[Naturenut1233]

1. Location of collection: Damariscotta Maine USA
2. Date of collection: 09-07-17
3. Habitat of collection: On a sandy beach on a lake. Lots of queens of various species out that day due to rain the two days before. 
4. Length (from head to gaster): 6.35 mm approx
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Rusty red color, slightly translucent, Long slender body with very distinctive shape. (See photos)
6. Distinguishing characteristics: Reminds me in looks of pharaoh ants. But I'm not familiar enough with ants to begin to identify it. Only one on the beach that looked like this out of hundreds of ants I saw that day. Has a distinctive 2 part petiole. 
7. Distinguishing behavior: Very active and fast but clumsy. Doesn't seem to be able to climb smooth surfaces well. Combative. Likes to try to bite and sting me but can't feel anything. 
8. Nest description: Unknown

 

Last but not least.... Is this a queen? I'm not convinced but looks to have the remains of where wings were and the beach was covered in queens that day. 

 

 

Added a few (haha, few) more pics below and close ups of face. 

 

Edited by Naturenut1233, September 9 2017 - 9:39 AM.

[T.C.]

Myrmica Sp.

[Nathant2131]

Myrmica sp. queen. It looks a lot like Myrmica rubra, but we would need clear, close pictures of the front of the head to tell for sure.

Edited by Nathant2131, September 9 2017 - 8:16 AM.

[Naturenut1233]

This isn't Myrmica Rubra is it? Hope not. lol. Doesn't hurt when it tries to sting or bite though so makes me think it might not be? 

[Naturenut1233]

Just saw your post. Using a point and shoot camera with no special lenses so will attempt to get better pics and if I succeed will post them here. 

[Naturenut1233]

Where can I find a list of Myrmica species in maine or new england? Is there such a thing? 

[Nathant2131]

Where can I find a list of Myrmica species in maine or new england? Is there such a thing? 

Myrmica taxonomy needs some work, and there are many unnamed Myrmica species out there, but here's a list of native species: (It does not include M. rubra as they are invasive. M. rubra is New England's only invasive species of that genus)

 

http://antmaps.org/?...y&genus=Myrmica

 

I suggest getting the book "A Field Guide to the Ants of New England". It gives a very in-depth overview with the genus Myrmica (And all the other New England Ants. Each species has it's own page or two) , including all the unnamed species, and which species may be complexes, etc.

Edited by Nathant2131, September 9 2017 - 8:30 AM.

[Naturenut1233]

K, thank you. Will be putting that book on my Christmas wish list

[Nathant2131]

K, thank you. Will be putting that book on my Christmas wish list

It's a must have in my opinion for anyone who lives in the NorthEast. There's a complete identification key for every ant in New England, and even includes a few species outside of it.

Edited by Nathant2131, September 9 2017 - 8:36 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

With New England Myrmica, there are tricks to identifying the invasive M. rubra, but then all others cannot be fully differentiated without a microscope. Some keys even require you to look at cross sections of workers.

Edited by Batspiderfish, September 9 2017 - 8:40 AM.

[Naturenut1233]

From what I can find on the Maine University website it appears Rubra have two spikes on the back of the thorax but this one appears to only have one. Now I'm not sure on that, but even so the spike on her back is quite a bit smaller than a lot of the myrmica species. I'm trying to look up the genuses individually and have ruled out a few as a result. Added more pics above to the original post and I'm quite proud of the fact that in some of them you can even count the segments in the antennae, given that my camera really isn't that great at close ups. Best I can do for now and going to let the poor ant have a break. Now my understanding from Myrica species is that they usually reproduce by taking some workers with them to form a new colony. This queen was alone when I found her and didn't see any other red ants on the beach at all that day. So will she be able to raise brood on her own? and also should I assume she's semi-claustral? She did seem to really enjoy some honey water I gave her. 

[Batspiderfish]

Myrmecina has two sets of propodeal spines, but Myrmica will only have one set which may be reduced to nothing, depending on the species (the inquiline social parasite Myrmica are often like this). Myrmica rubra does have nuptial flights wherein queens may found colonies independently. Non-parasitic Myrmica are semi-claustral. Mine love Drosophila.

[Naturenut1233]

K thanks. Learning so much. Found a bunch more queens this afternoon, including another that looks a lot like this one and another crematogaster. Found a bunch of ants flying out of a nest on my walk back home but got trapped in a hail storm with lightning that was really close so didn't wait for them and ran home. lol. Might drive back to see if I can find them now. Got 100 test tubes in the mail today. Might keep me busy a while as I try to identify everything.