9 replies to this topic

[Jamiesname]

Michigan, Northeastern lower penninsula.

Found under a large rock of a firepit.

At least 2 ant species were living together. One smaller all black (3-4mm), and one larger with black abdomen, and reddish body (5mm). Cocoons are about 5mm.

Ants were very excited when I moved the rock. This species was quick to react and had most cocoons moved under ground in a few short seconds.


Pics:

https://imgur.com/gallery/qJVdI

Edited by Jamiesname, September 26 2017 - 7:19 PM.

[Jamiesname]

Here's a link with better pics


https://imgur.com/gallery/uzTCx

[ultraex2]

Can you get a better picture of the mandibles?  The fact that there's 2 species together definitely points towards a slaver-type ant, but it could also be parasitic.  Here's some pictures of what they look like here.

 

http://www.alexander...rd/slaver ants/

[Nathant2131]

Can you get a better picture of the mandibles?  The fact that there's 2 species together definitely points towards a slaver-type ant, but it could also be parasitic.  Here's some pictures of what they look like here.
 
http://www.alexander...rd/slaver ants/

Polyergus aren't the only slave raiders. There are a good bit of species in the genus Formica that are slave raiders themselves, and I believe that's the case here. (Sanguinea group)

[Jamiesname]

Thanks for the help. I do in fact believe this to be Formica sanguinea. I've been reading up on them and it's a very interesting species. They're both parasitic AND slavers, and if that's not enough they can also exist successfully on their own as well. I'll try to capture a queen this coming spring/summer (with any luck) since the nest is nearby.

Edited by Jamiesname, September 27 2017 - 8:22 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

Formica sanguinea is a Eurasian species. This may be from the sanguinea group, but that doesn't mean they can exist independently as the likes of Formica sanguinea and Formica aserva (an American facultative raiding species; aserva means "no slaves"). In likelihood, you would need to supply pupae to the colony for the rest of its life.

 

Kidnapping brood is just another form of social parasitism. Every kidnapper species I can think of founds colonies by usurping or stealing from a host.

[Jamiesname]

Formica sanguinea is a Eurasian species. This may be from the sanguinea group, but that doesn't mean they can exist independently as the likes of Formica sanguinea and Formica aserva (an American facultative raiding species; aserva means "no slaves"). In likelihood, you would need to supply pupae to the colony for the rest of its life.

Kidnapping brood is just another form of social parasitism. Every kidnapper species I can think of founds colonies by usurping or stealing from a host.

I do admit that I'm fairly new to this hobby, but this is what I found regarding the species in Michigan. Also, Wikipedia does say they live in the US, but I didn't see Michigan listed there such as in the link below.

https://books.google...ichigan&f=false

Edited by Jamiesname, September 27 2017 - 9:58 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

That book was written 100 years ago. Taxonomy has come a long way since then.

[Jamiesname]

True, it is very old - that just gives them more time to migrate to the lower peninsula where I'm at

[Batspiderfish]

Point being that somebody saw the ant and said "that's Formica sanguinea, because there's no other hitherto undiscovered species which that could possibly be."