8 replies to this topic

[TennesseeAnts]

According to AntWeb, Camponotus Nicobarensis has been found in WA?  https://www.antweb.o...shot=h&number=1

I thought they were an Asian ant.

[Ant Broski]

According to AntWeb, Camponotus Nicobarensis has been found in WA?  https://www.antweb.o...shot=h&number=1
I thought they were an Asian ant.

It could be have originally been in Asia and then came over through human transportation.

[TennesseeAnts]

That's what I originally thought. At first, I thought "Oh, maybe it was a mistake".   

[TennesseeAnts]

Also, I haven't seen even a worker in my time keeping ants.  

[Serafine]

C. nicobarensis is a (relatively small) quite adaptable Capomonotus that grows quickly and can have multiple queens per colony. I'd say they have a decent potential to become an invasive species.

Edited by Serafine, November 26 2017 - 3:17 AM.

[TennesseeAnts]

Really? What sub genus are they part of?

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, November 26 2017 - 1:23 PM.

[Cameron C. Thomas]

Looking at the specimens collected in the US from AntWeb, all of them--1 in Washington and 4 in Indiana--were collected in the 1950s and all are housed at the Field Museum in Chicago. There aren't any photos of the specimens available, but it's interesting that those are the only documented occurrences and all of them are in the one collection.

 

The Field Museum's searchable database doesn't indicate the curator who ID'd the specimens, but AntWeb seems to indicate the determination was made by different people, but I'm sure from the same key. I don't like suggesting this because people, including myself, can be sensitive about their identifications, but I'd say there's a chance they're misidentified. I'm not going to say it's likely, but the circumstances are curious.    

[TennesseeAnts]

Oh! A local anter! But yes, I agree. They must have been misidentified.

[Serafine]

It's also possible they were introduced at some point but just didn't make it and died out.