4 replies to this topic

[Hikari]

1. Location of collection: McDonald, OH.
2. Date of collection: 7-12-17
3. Habitat of collection: Caught in backyard near small wooded area at blacklight sheet.
4. Length: 7mm
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Very dark brown, almost black, body, lightening to brown on legs, antennae, and mandibles. VERY shiny. Lots of very fine hair, almost invisible to naked eye, but very noticeable in macro pics.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: One petiole, antennae appear clubbed at ends.
8. Nest description: n/a
Pics:

 

This queen was quite calm through her photoshoot, and I got some very nice pics at different angles. Not bad for shooting through a test tube.

 

 

 

 

So much hair!

 

 

A lovely smile for the camera, giving a clear mandible and antennae shot.

 

 

 

1. Location of collection: McDonald, OH. Caught along sidewalks around school & football field
2. Date of collection: 7-12-17
3. Habitat of collection: Suburban area with mix of trees along road
4. Length: Have multiple queens between 8-9mm in length
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Mostly a dark brown, lighter underneath, silvery/goldish sheen covering entire ant.
6. Distinguishing characteristics: One petiole, See pics for others
8. Nest description: n/a
Pics:

 

 

Some front shots for mandible teeth

 

(she wasn't happy)

And a shot for antenna  segment count. The lighting makes the sheen that covers the ant very noticeable.



1. Location of collection: McDonald, OH. Caught along sidewalks around school & football field

2. Date of collection: 7-12-17
3. Habitat of collection: Suburban area with mix of trees along road
4. Length: Around 7mm in length
5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Dark brown, lightening on legs
6. Distinguishing characteristics: One petiole, gaster looks plated
8. Nest description: n/a

TBH, I think this is a Lasius parasite (another umbratus?), but just wanted to make sure. If they are, I have brood they can have from my captive Lasius colony.

 

Pics:

 

 

Mandible/antennae shots

 

 

 

 

Anyways, any help on the IDs will be most appreciated! If you need clearer pics of any parts of the ants for a better ID, let me know and I'll do my best to try and get one.

Edited by Hikari, September 13 2017 - 2:12 PM.

[JackPearl]

Second one looks like a lasius, but I really don't know, good photos regardless!

[LC3]

Queen #1 and #3 are both socially parasitic Lasius, Queen #2 is probably Lasius alienus.

Queen #1 looks like Lasius claviger

Queen #3 is Lasius umbratus

[Batspiderfish]

Lasius claviger, Lasius neoniger, Lasius umbratus. Perfect ID post!

Edited by Batspiderfish, September 13 2017 - 3:31 PM.

[Hikari]

Lasius claviger, Lasius neoniger, Lasius umbratus. Perfect ID post!

Thanks a bunch! Looks like I'm at least getting better at figuring out L. umbratus, but a second opinion is always nice. I definitely want to take a crack at raising some of the Lasius parasites though, now that I have brood from my captive Lasius colony to work with.

I do wonder, for the other umbratus I don't have brood for...if I raised my neoniger alongside the umbratus, if I could also maybe give a couple of pupa from one to the other when the time came? Hmmm... I mean, there has to be a reason they fly on the same exact day. (Seriously, there were ants EVERYWHERE).