3 replies to this topic

[Jamiesname]

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Michigan, Northeastern lower peninsula.

2. Date of collection: 9-12-17

3. Habitat of collection:The brownish yellow ones were near a lake on a public access. The orangeish/red (citronella ants?) came from my driveway and sidewalks, and the small brown/black one next to the orange/black ones also came from my driveway.

4. Length (from head to gaster):the 2 large ones are about 9-10mm long, the smallest one with the red ants is 7-8mm (see pics).

5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: 1.) Reddish/orange 2.) Brownish/yellow (gaster almost has an iridescent yellowish/gold to it in spots. 3.) Brown/black

6. Distinguishing characteristics: the two largest species were out flying in masses

7. Distinguishing behavior: nothing out of the ordinary.

8. Nest description: No nests, they were flying around and/or crawling on the ground.


Pics: https://jamieproulx.smugmug.com/Ants/


There are a few pics of a carpenter queen, but I can't figure out how to delete them so pls just ignore those ones.


Thanks again everyone!

[Martialis]

L. claviger is the one with "Thicker front legs." They're social parasites.

 

Camponotus pennsylvanicus is the carpenter ant queen.

 

The others are Lasius neoniger.

Edited by Martialis, September 12 2017 - 4:07 PM.

[Nathant2131]

L. claviger is the one with "Thicker front legs. They're social parasites.

They are Lasius latipes, not L. claviger.

 

For the fifth picture they are either Lasius neoniger, Lasius alienus or Lasius pallitarsis.

 

The lower queen in the fifth picture could be either Lasius flavus or Lasius nearcticus due to the brighter gaster and reddish mesosoma.

 

The gray queens mixed in with the red ones are Lasius umbratus.

[Jamiesname]

Sorted out the queens that shed their wings. Looks like there's 4 different species here. I originally thought there were only 3. New photos added with them in tubes. Thanks for the info so far!


https://jamieproulx.smugmug.com/Ants/