10 replies to this topic

[GeorgeK]

1. Location (on a map) of collection: Northern Serbia
2. Date of collection: 6th of June
3. Habitat of collection: Earth, below clay tile
4. Length (from head to gaster): 8mm (plus minus 1mm)
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Black with white/silver hue
6. Distinguishing characteristics: /
7. Distinguishing behavior: Pulling quite a lot the cotton on test tube
8. Nest description: /

9. Nuptial flight time and date: /

 

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Sorry for somewhat bad quality of photos. I'm not sure she is a queen, but it seems like she has wing scars, so I'm kinda keeping my hopes up. Even species ID would be useful as i would know what i have in my yard. Thanks in advance!

[Aaron567]

She is a queen. Looks like a Lasius parasite of some sort.

[GeorgeK]

She is a queen. Looks like a Lasius parasite of some sort.

So i just checked, only parasite i know would be L. Umbratus, and it seems it checks out Thanks for the help man

[rbarreto]

Doesn't really look like L. umbratus to me. maybe L. fuliginosus?

 

It doesn't seem that the eastern European Parasitic Lasius species are very well documented.

Edited by rbarreto, June 4 2018 - 11:42 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

There are lots of other Lasius parasites in that region as well -- seemingly all of the Eurasian Chthonolasius except L. sabularum. Definitely from the umbratus group.

[GeorgeK]

Doesn't really look like L. umbratus to me. maybe L. fuliginosus?

 

It doesn't seem that the eastern European Parasitic Lasius species are very well documented.

Sadly only things that are well documented here are wars... Anyways, thanks for the help everyone. Maybe if i succeed in rearing her ( i got few "spare" lasius niger colonies ) and she has workers, maybe it will be easier to ID the species.

Also, while photos are bad, she isn't as dark as l. fuliginosus. As far as i can tell, she looks like umbratus to me.

Edited by GeorgeK, June 4 2018 - 12:16 PM.

[rbarreto]

Unless European L. umbratus are different then the ones here in Canada then I don't think that's what you have, I have never seen one with a whitish/silver hue. They are normally dark brown with reddish hues. Also the legs are really long and skinny which is why I guessed L. fuliginosus.

 

However I would 100% take Batspiderfish's advice over mine and say they are probably in the Chthonolasius group.

Edited by rbarreto, June 4 2018 - 3:01 PM.

[Batspiderfish]

Unless European L. umbratus are different then the ones here in Canada then I don't think that's what you have, I have never seen one with a whitish/silver hue. They are normally dark brown with reddish hues. Also the legs are really long and skinny which is why I guessed L. fuliginosus.

 

However I would 100% take Batspiderfish's advice over mine and say they are probably in the Chthonolasius group.

The sheen is the reflection off fine, appressed hairs. Lasius means "wooly", and most (not all) species from this genus have that somewhat fuzzy appearance.

[GeorgeK]

Unless European L. umbratus are different then the ones here in Canada then I don't think that's what you have, I have never seen one with a whitish/silver hue. They are normally dark brown with reddish hues. Also the legs are really long and skinny which is why I guessed L. fuliginosus.

 

However I would 100% take Batspiderfish's advice over mine and say they are probably in the Chthonolasius group.

After a bit more of searching, i found very good picture of it on someones flickdriver. He also comments that he is unsure if its l. umbratus or l. fuliginosus.

Heres the picture that very clearly matches this queen i got, sadly i couldn't link it here so you will have to open link https://www.flickr.c...tua/3786194542/

[Barristan]

Hmm I am also not sure what it is. Lasius neglectus would also be an option. This invasive species is spreading in Europe.

Edited by Barristan, June 5 2018 - 1:43 AM.

[GeorgeK]

So i prepared to introduce her to workers today, but sadly she is dead...