3 replies to this topic

[IcarusSkybound]

I found this queen on 4/26/2018 in Virginia Beach, VA in a small park on the sidewalk. The park has a small amount of trees, a small pond, and a concrete pathway around the pond. She's somewhere between 8-10mm, dark reddish-brown in color, and has no hairs. She had already shed her wings by the time I found her. Any assistance would be helpful.

 

Images: https://imgur.com/a/RjYB4Fz

 

Edit: Sorry for the blurry images. I zoomed in with my phone. As you can see she has two bands on her gaster.

Edited by IcarusSkybound, April 28 2018 - 8:10 PM.

[VoidElecent]

Your post contains all the correct information, although it is usually best to stick to the template.

 

Your queen is Lasius interjectus, a social parasite.

[IcarusSkybound]

Your post contains all the correct information, although it is usually best to stick to the template.

 

Your queen is Lasius interjectus, a social parasite.

I appreciate your response but how did you arrive at L. Interjectus? Queens of that species have many long hairs throughout their body while this queen is hairless.

[VoidElecent]

 

Your post contains all the correct information, although it is usually best to stick to the template.

 

Your queen is Lasius interjectus, a social parasite.

I appreciate your response but how did you arrive at L. Interjectus? Queens of that species have many long hairs throughout their body while this queen is hairless.

 

I, perhaps prematurely, disregarded pubescence. I caught a number of L. interjectus queens around this time last year and the coloration and morphological proportions lined up. I do think I see some fine pubescence on her gaster in the second picture—if you manage to get some really clear close-ups, we might be able to run through this guide.

Edited by VoidElecent, April 29 2018 - 8:49 AM.