27 replies to this topic

[rbaezam]

Hi friends,

 

I have this queen with two workers in a test tube. I caught her some weeks ago and I'd like some help to identify her.

 

1. Location of collection: Yucatan, Merida in the backyard of my house after a rainy day.

2. Date of collection: in August 2017.
3. Habitat of collection: around my zone are a lot of vegetation and trees.
4. Length: the queen is around 3-4 mm

5. Coloration, hue, pattern and texture: Shiny black 
6. Distinguishing characteristics: seems to have two petiole nodes
7. Anything else distinctive: sometimes bend the gaster below the body
8. Nest description: NA
 

Sorry for the quality of the pictures, I'll try to take better ones if needed.

 

https://imgur.com/a/ncika

 

Thanks,

Rodolfo.

[VoidElecent]

Wow, cool ants. I wish I lived in a tropical region.

 

They remind me a lot of Wasmannia, although I don't think I've seen a dark Wasmannia species. I actually think these are Nesomyrmex echinatinodis, but don't take my word for it. 

 

It also may be worth considering Hylomyrma versuta.

Edited by VoidElecent, September 22 2017 - 6:16 PM.

[gcsnelling]

Look more like a Pheidole to me.

[AnthonyP163]

After looking at every documented species in your area, It seems that you have a small colony of Monomorium  ebeninum. Good luck!

[Batspiderfish]

Monomorium have mesosomas that are notably more slender than the head and gaster (and no propodeal spines, to the best of my knowledge). I'm not sure about Pheidole because of the shape of the mesosoma on the workers, but these pictures are pretty difficult to work with.

[VoidElecent]

Monomorium have mesosomas that are notably more slender than the head and gaster (and no propodeal spines, to the best of my knowledge). I'm not sure about Pheidole because of the shape of the mesosoma on the workers, but these pictures are pretty difficult to work with.

 

That middle section is what threw me off. I can't find any species that match it.

[rbaezam]

I'll try to get better pictures, but it's a little hard due to their small size.

 

I don't think they are Pheidole, because some weeks ago I had a Pheidole colony (which I had to let free because it was growing so big) and they were a little different than this ones (specially the queen).

[gcsnelling]

Pheidole is a HUGE genus and as such they are incredibly variable. However these could just as easily be something else and Mexico is very diverse myrmecologically..

[AnthonyP163]

Yucatan has about 100 native species, therefore it's a bit easier to navigate the species than some other tropical areas.

[ctantkeeper]

Looks like Temnothorax longispinosis.

[gcsnelling]

Actually Temnothorax is not a bad thought, however won't be that species as it does not apparently occur in that area.

[VoidElecent]

Actually Temnothorax is not a bad thought, however won't be that species as it does not apparently occur in that area.

 

I considered Temnothorax as well, but the legs seem longer and much bulkier. Nesomyrmex is also a small arboreal, armored genus very similar to Temnothorax.

[Jonathan21700]

They somewhat remind me of Aphaenogaster but probably something else. Cool looking ants!

[Mettcollsuss]

The two possibilities I found:

• Monomorium ebeninum
• Temnothorax subditivus

[Aaron567]

Temnothorax seems the most likely (in my opinion) out of the species discussed in this thread.

 

But at the same time, the workers don't seem to really resemble Temnothorax much..

Edited by Aaron567, January 18 2018 - 6:29 PM.

[rbaezam]

Hi guys, thanks for all your comments.

 

A little update on this colony (which I still don't know the ID):

 

It's been almost 5 months since I published the first pics. Now the colony is bigger, but not so much. Seems they grow slowly, or maybe because of the winter (which is not very cold here in Yucatan, but still).

There are around 10-20 workers and a lot of brood. I need to change them to a different nest, because the current one looks dirty.

 

Here are some pictures to see if that helps with the ID:

 

https://imgur.com/a/29omu

 

Just a few more comments about their behavior: they are very shy, if they sense any vibration or movement, they try to hide and sometimes they bend their gaster below the body. Their movement is slow most of the time, only fast when trying to hide. They like protein food like crikets, mealworms, spiders. Sometimes they like honey or sugar water, but not as much has protein food. 

 

Thanks for your help.

[nurbs]

Hi guys, thanks for all your comments.

 

A little update on this colony (which I still don't know the ID):

 

It's been almost 5 months since I published the first pics. Now the colony is bigger, but not so much. Seems they grow slowly, or maybe because of the winter (which is not very cold here in Yucatan, but still).

There are around 10-20 workers and a lot of brood. I need to change them to a different nest, because the current one looks dirty.

 

Here are some pictures to see if that helps with the ID:

 

https://imgur.com/a/29omu

 

Just a few more comments about their behavior: they are very shy, if they sense any vibration or movement, they try to hide and sometimes they bend their gaster below the body. Their movement is slow most of the time, only fast when trying to hide. They like protein food like crikets, mealworms, spiders. Sometimes they like honey or sugar water, but not as much has protein food. 

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Nice pics and ID thread. Took the liberty of embedding for you

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rbaezam]

 

Hi guys, thanks for all your comments.

 

A little update on this colony (which I still don't know the ID):

 

It's been almost 5 months since I published the first pics. Now the colony is bigger, but not so much. Seems they grow slowly, or maybe because of the winter (which is not very cold here in Yucatan, but still).

There are around 10-20 workers and a lot of brood. I need to change them to a different nest, because the current one looks dirty.

 

Here are some pictures to see if that helps with the ID:

 

https://imgur.com/a/29omu

 

Just a few more comments about their behavior: they are very shy, if they sense any vibration or movement, they try to hide and sometimes they bend their gaster below the body. Their movement is slow most of the time, only fast when trying to hide. They like protein food like crikets, mealworms, spiders. Sometimes they like honey or sugar water, but not as much has protein food. 

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Nice pics and ID thread. Took the liberty of embedding for you

 

 

Thanks for that!

[VoidElecent]

Ah, 'tis the thread about those Myrmicines

The jet black ones, with lovely, brilliant sheens.

They're small, and from Yucatan, Mexico.

Beautiful ants, indeed; still unidentified, though.

 

And, alas, it is I.

To your various suspicions I reply, "Why?"

For, I believe the identification is not so complex.

The ants in question could very well be Nesomyrmex!

 

But I appreciate the confusion and on-topic banter,

After all, I'm still a relatively inexperienced, Philadelphia anter.

It would be safer to listen to Mr. Gordon Snelling,

whose expertise is widely respected and rather compelling.

 

And now, I realize I should not have spent so much time

trying to make this bloody response rhyme.

I wish you luck with your ant-keeping schemes;

you've done a fine job with this colony, so it seems.

Edited by VoidElecent, February 20 2018 - 4:02 PM.

[T.C.]

Ah, 'tis the thread about those Myrmecines
The jet black ones, with lovely, brilliant sheens.
They're small, and from Yucatan, Mexico.
Beautiful ants, indeed; still unidentified, though.

And, alas, it is I.
To your various suspicions I reply, "Why?"
For, I believe the identification is not so complex.
The ants in question could very well be Nesomyrmex!

But I appreciate the confusion and on-topic banter,
After all, I'm still a relatively inexperienced, Philadelphia anter.
It would be safer to listen to Mr. Gordon Snelling,
whose expertise is widely respected and rather compelling.

And now, I realize I should not have spent so much time
trying to make this bloody response rhyme.
I wish you luck on your ant-keeping schemes;
you've done a fine job with this colony, so it seems.

You sir, get a like for that poem.

@nurbs, you are gonna get the official Photo Embedder Medal for your positive contributions to not only this thread but others as well.

Edited by T.C., February 8 2018 - 4:11 PM.