12 replies to this topic

[ComedyHotDog]

Hey everyone!

 

I apologize for the unzoomed picture (Best the 5s could get), but I was wondering if you could help me ID these ants 

 

Some Info: Found in a rotting pine log in Tidewater Virginia on a friend's hunting property, near an old rock quarry. I tried searching for other workers/brood but there only appeared to be these 4 ants huddled up against the queen. Species doesn't appear to have a stinger, or if they do they don't use it like Solenopsis richteri I encountered earlier that day. Workers are approx. 4mm and the queen looks to be in the 6-8mm range 

 

Link: https://imgur.com/zQRfEPE

 

I believe I narrowed it down to :

Tetramorium caespitum

Myrmica punctiventris

Stenamma diecki

Aphaenogaster picea

Temnothorax longispinosus

 

But honestly at a certain point they all just appear to be small black ants to me, so I hope y'all can help me out!

 

(also I apologize, I can't figure out how to get the picture to show on this forum)

Edited by ComedyHotDog, April 3 2018 - 3:00 PM.

[VoidElecent]

This is definitely Aphaenogaster, a truly elegant genus of ants. Species-wise, I doubt it's A. picea ("picea" meaning black in Latin, which these workers are not); it may be more fitting to consider Aphaenogaster rudis.

Edited by VoidElecent, April 3 2018 - 5:40 PM.

[AntsAreUs]

They are Aphaenogaster. Stenamma and Temnothorax are too small compared to these. (~2mm)

Edited by AntsAreUs, April 3 2018 - 4:29 PM.

[Mettcollsuss]

Aphaenogaster rudis

[ComedyHotDog]

I am pretty terrible at formatting on forums...I am more used to Reddit so I am not sure how to tag both of you 

 

but

 

Thank you! 

 

Going through the antwiki I can't decide whether they are Aphaenogaster carolinensis or Aphaenogaster rudis, either way I am just glad I didn't go hiking through the woods for some pavement ants 

 

Edit: I'll trust Mettcollsuss seeing as they have a colony (which I am reading about now) Cheers!

Edited by ComedyHotDog, April 3 2018 - 5:06 PM.

[ComedyHotDog]

Hey everyone! 

 

So I appreciate your feedback last time, but it turns out we were all wrong! I had given you false information. I just watched the queen murder a fruit fly with her stinger, it was amazing! 

 

Would you like to try again? I believe I know the answer, but its a cool species so I figured y'all might enjoy the challenge 

[VoidElecent]

Hey everyone! 

 

So I appreciate your feedback last time, but it turns out we were all wrong! I had given you false information. I just watched the queen murder a fruit fly with her stinger, it was amazing! 

 

Would you like to try again? I believe I know the answer, but its a cool species so I figured y'all might enjoy the challenge 

 

I suppose the only other option would be another species of Aphaenogaster, maybe A. mariae. How did you rule out A. rudis? I still believe it to be an accurate identification.

Edited by VoidElecent, April 27 2018 - 3:03 PM.

[ComedyHotDog]

 

Hey everyone! 

 

So I appreciate your feedback last time, but it turns out we were all wrong! I had given you false information. I just watched the queen murder a fruit fly with her stinger, it was amazing! 

 

Would you like to try again? I believe I know the answer, but its a cool species so I figured y'all might enjoy the challenge 

 

I suppose the only other option would be another species of Aphaenogaster, maybe A. mariae. How did you rule out A. rudis? I still believe it to be an accurate identification.

 

I believe that species not posses a stinger, I ended up using the key to NA ant species (which, ironically doesnt have Aphaenogaster) and I believe there's an ant that fits the description perfectly.

 

Myrmecina americana, but again, for some reason there was no Aphaenogaster. So if that species has a stinger then I am incorrect 

[VoidElecent]

I believe that species not posses a stinger, I ended up using the key to NA ant species (which, ironically doesnt have Aphaenogaster) and I believe there's an ant that fits the description perfectly.

 

 

Myrmecina americana, but again, for some reason there was no Aphaenogaster. So if that species has a stinger then I am incorrect 

 

The key you used should have helped you determine subfamily, after which you would have moved onto keys for genus and species, respectively.

 

You are correct that these ants belong to the Myrmecinae subfamily, but I am puzzled as to how you came to the conclusion of Myrmecina americana. M. americana are significantly smaller and have much shorter legs than Aphaenogaster; not to mention their compact, bulkier bodies.

 

Keys are great, but it helps to have proper equipment and preferably some degree of magnification to use them successfully. Sometimes, it's easier to just look at pictures and see which ones match up. 

[123LordOfAnts123]

I agree with Aphaenogaster.

Members of this genus possess a sting, but it is underdeveloped if not completely absent with some species. Despite this, they regularly adopt the “sting posture” when attacking prey.

Edited by 123LordOfAnts123, April 28 2018 - 8:02 AM.

[ComedyHotDog]

I agree with Aphaenogaster.

Members of this genus possess a sting, but it is underdeveloped if not completely absent with some species. Despite this, they regularly adopt the “sting posture” when attacking prey.

 

 

 

I believe that species not posses a stinger, I ended up using the key to NA ant species (which, ironically doesnt have Aphaenogaster) and I believe there's an ant that fits the description perfectly.

 

 

Myrmecina americana, but again, for some reason there was no Aphaenogaster. So if that species has a stinger then I am incorrect 

 

The key you used should have helped you determine subfamily, after which you would have moved onto keys for genus and species, respectively.

 

You are correct that these ants belong to the Myrmecinae subfamily, but I am puzzled as to how you came to the conclusion of Myrmecina americana. M. americana are significantly smaller and have much shorter legs than Aphaenogaster; not to mention their compact, bulkier bodies.

 

Keys are great, but it helps to have proper equipment and preferably some degree of magnification to use them successfully. Sometimes, it's easier to just look at pictures and see which ones match up. 

 

 

 

Facepalm (that's what I get for skimming while stoned), I rescind my accusation. That being said it wasn't a stinging posture, it was very much a sting that paralyzed the fruit fly. I'll order magnification, and this conversation will be shelved until a worker dies. 

 

Then, Ill use this to figure out the true answer, at this point I am more curious than anything. 

 

Void-  Myrmecina americana is the only species of that genus in VA, ipso facto that's the one I chose 

[VoidElecent]

Facepalm (that's what I get for skimming while stoned), I rescind my accusation. That being said it wasn't a stinging posture, it was very much a sting that paralyzed the fruit fly. I'll order magnification, and this conversation will be shelved until a worker dies. 

 

Then, Ill use this to figure out the true answer, at this point I am more curious than anything. 

 

Void-  Myrmecina americana is the only species of that genus in VA, ipso facto that's the one I chose 

 

 

I am fully aware; I suppose my initial hesitation to your suggestion pertained to the genus, as well.

 

I will, once again, voice my support for Aphaenogaster.

Edited by VoidElecent, April 28 2018 - 2:56 PM.

[Mettcollsuss]

Pretty sure this is Aphaenogaster rudis. The legs are too long to be much else. Tetramorium queens have rounder abdomens and are black rather than reddish. 

 

EDIT: Also, A. rudis is known to nest in rotting and/or dead logs, which is where you said you found them. And these girls love their insects, so make sure you feed them plenty of protein.

 

 

 

Members of this genus possess a sting, but it is underdeveloped if not completely absent with some species. Despite this, they regularly adopt the “sting posture” when attacking prey.

I've been stung by A. rudis before. It's not the worst but isn't pleasant either. They're pretty aggressive.

Edited by Mettcollsuss, April 28 2018 - 3:09 PM.