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Distinguishing Pogonomyrmex californicus from subnitidus?


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9 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Foogoo - Posted December 1 2014 - 4:36 PM

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Do either of them have any features that would allow me to do so either in the field or at least without a microscope?


Edited by Foogoo, December 1 2014 - 4:37 PM.

Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta


#2 Offline dspdrew - Posted December 1 2014 - 4:56 PM

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Yes, but it's hard. P. subnitidus have spines and P. californicus do not. Luckily, the spines on P. subnitidus are fairly large, and if you look close enough and have good enough eyes, you can sometimes spot them without a scope.



#3 Offline Foogoo - Posted December 1 2014 - 5:56 PM

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Yes, but it's hard. P. subnitidus have spines and P. californicus do not. Luckily, the spines on P. subnitidus are fairly large, and if you look close enough and have good enough eyes, you can sometimes spot them without a scope.

 

I'm looking at Google, Antweb and Bug guide and not seeing these spines you speak of. Do you have a good picture example?


Camponotus vicinus, Crematogaster 1, Crematogaster 2, Formica francoeuri, *, *, Myrmecocystus testaceus, Novomessor cockerelli, Pheidole hyatti, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pogonomyrmex rugosus, Solenopsis invicta


#4 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted December 1 2014 - 6:14 PM

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Hmm... My dead P.subdinitus queen has no spines, so she is not subnitidus then?

Edited by Gregory2455, December 3 2014 - 2:43 PM.


#5 Offline dspdrew - Posted December 1 2014 - 6:28 PM

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The spines on the queens are a lot harder to see.

 

gallery_2_183_50060.jpg

 

gallery_2_72_53156.jpg



#6 Offline LAnt - Posted December 2 2014 - 8:24 PM

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So these are both P.subdinitus?



#7 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted December 2 2014 - 8:39 PM

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Yeah, they are.   By the way, I did end up finding spines on the dead queen, so I am sure now it was P.subnitidus. :)

Edited by Gregory2455, December 3 2014 - 2:42 PM.


#8 Offline James C. Trager - Posted December 3 2014 - 2:20 PM

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P. "subdinitus" - a new species.  ;)



#9 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted December 3 2014 - 2:42 PM

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Ack... I sure misspelt that... :facepalm:

#10 Offline LAnt - Posted December 3 2014 - 4:23 PM

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Hah i just copy pasted it from you




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