4 replies to this topic

[KalenH]

Hello Ant Wizards,

 

I'm not sure if this is an ant or a queen ant. There are many workers of this species living in logs and around the concrete of my culdesac and they seem to behave like ants. 

 

Thank you for your time,

Kalen

 

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Sharpsburg, Georgia Zip: 30277
2. Date of collection: 5/30/18
3. Habitat of collection: Southside Atlanta suburbs are carved out of forest.
4. Length (from head to gaster): .5cm https://imgur.com/dysgzRd

5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Black, smooth

6. Distinguishing characteristics: The workers have long almost rectangular gasters. This "queen" is almost exactly the same size as the workers. Which is somewhere around the size of a standard solenopsis invicta.

7. Distinguishing behavior: Nothing unique, large dispersed marching lines. 

 

8. Nest description: I've noticed these living in small numbers inside of dead logs and marching in larger numbers around the culdesac. I'm confident they're not exclusively living in wood but i've not found any above-ground nests.

 

9. Nuptial flight time and date: 5/30/18

[Images of ant]

https://imgur.com/YFRHr0G

https://imgur.com/I6cTL5K

[Images of nest]
 
[Images of habitat]

https://imgur.com/c1j5DMk

 

Bonus Ant - Found this in Helen Georgia after a week of raining. I'm assuming its another Solenopsis invicta queen. https://imgur.com/0pgJBmQ

[Aaron567]

Brachyponera chinensis.

[VoidElecent]

I think this may very well be Brachyponera chinensis; the invasive Asian Needle Ant. You are correct about the bonus queen, it is Solenopsis invicta.

 

My uncle and his family live in Decatur and their yard is filled with B. chinensis . I don't know too much about them, but they seem pretty neat.

[KalenH]

Awesome, thanks folks. After reading the wiki for chinensis i realized I had seen them tandem carrying which should confirm the identification.

 

From what I read they're predatory and use termites as a large portion of their food source. I would assume that this would make them near impossible to raise as a novice? or can i just feed them lots of insects and be fine?

[VoidElecent]

Awesome, thanks folks. After reading the wiki for chinensis i realized I had seen them tandem carrying which should confirm the identification.

 

From what I read they're predatory and use termites as a large portion of their food source. I would assume that this would make them near impossible to raise as a novice? or can i just feed them lots of insects and be fine?

 

Chances are, especially given their apparently invasive tendencies, they'll make the most of their environment. They may appreciate termites, sure, but I doubt they'd reject other sources of protein as a matter of preference. Once again, I'm not incredibly familiar with the species, so don't take my word for it.