8 replies to this topic

[OgienChomik]

Okay so I need help identifying two species of ants that I caught, I'm almost positive the big one is a Harvester species which I caught in May. She currently has two workers running around and a third about to eclose with many more coming. The queen is about 7mm long and the workers are about 5mm long. The other one I'm a lot more interested in what exactly it is. I caught her some time in June just before a decent shower, these girls seem to love to fly just before and after every rain storm and ever since I've started keeping ants I see TONS of these queens flying all around my office. The queen is about 3ish mm long and the worker she currently has is about 1-1 1/2mm long. I'm sorry but my phone's camera is a bit crappy but hopefully these pictures are good enough to help ID them!

Side note: these are the best pictures I could take of them since they're already in the test tubes and I can't disturb them much, thankfully the color on the picture is almost exactly the same color that they are in real life. I'm not too good at the distinguishing features that they have but hopefully everything needed is posted, if more is absolutely needed I'd be happy to find out

 

 

Edited by OgienChomik, August 3 2018 - 2:09 PM.

[AntsBC]

1st: festinatus group Camponotus. Please revise your measurements. 

 

2nd: Pictures don't say much but from what I can see I would say it is most likely Dorymyrmex bureni.

Edited by AntsBC, August 4 2018 - 8:39 PM.

[OgienChomik]

I see I left a few key details out of my post that could've helped with the identification of the ants.

 

For the first species of ant I'm almost positive it can't be camponotus as the workers are monomorphic, the nests that they build are usually under rocks from what I can tell and the mounds that they can create seem to stop being built as soon as the rain season ends. The queen and workers are completely red with their abdomen being slightly lighter of a red tone. This species most certainly can't be the species you mentioned as that species is only found in Florida and as stated in the title of the post these are found in the Dallas Fort Worth area and I'm pretty sure this species isn't invasive here. also the measurements are as accurate as can be, the queen might be closer to 10 mm but can't be any where more than that, she looks longer due to her wings which she has yet to rip off.

 

For the second species I'm not too sure on that identification either, the workers are very pale brown with a very white abdomen, not to mention as well the species you mentioned is also only native to Florida and I'm in Texas. as for what kind of nests they make I really can't say what they look like or where they nest as I've never really seen the workers in the wild. I just see the queens buzzing around every spring and am overly curious at what they are.

[gcsnelling]

The first is definitely not Pogonomyrmex

[AntsBC]

I see I left a few key details out of my post that could've helped with the identification of the ants.

 

For the first species of ant I'm almost positive it can't be camponotus as the workers are monomorphic, the nests that they build are usually under rocks from what I can tell and the mounds that they can create seem to stop being built as soon as the rain season ends. The queen and workers are completely red with their abdomen being slightly lighter of a red tone. This species most certainly can't be the species you mentioned as that species is only found in Florida and as stated in the title of the post these are found in the Dallas Fort Worth area and I'm pretty sure this species isn't invasive here. also the measurements are as accurate as can be, the queen might be closer to 10 mm but can't be any where more than that, she looks longer due to her wings which she has yet to rip off.

 

For the second species I'm not too sure on that identification either, the workers are very pale brown with a very white abdomen, not to mention as well the species you mentioned is also only native to Florida and I'm in Texas. as for what kind of nests they make I really can't say what they look like or where they nest as I've never really seen the workers in the wild. I just see the queens buzzing around every spring and am overly curious at what they are.

 

First of all, the first queen is 100% Camponotus. Talk to any other ant keeper on the forum, they will all say the same thing. Camponotus floridanus is actually speculated to be in Texas according to antmaps so that is why I said that. I don't think It is necessarily that exact species after doing a bit more research but it is in the festinatus group for sure. As for the other queen, Dorymyrmex bureni is actually native to texas according to antmaps. Size matches with that species and from those photos I would say it is most likely that, but you have to post better photos if you want it to be confirmed. I'm not sure where you are getting your info from, but if it is antwiki I wouldn't trust them. They do not update there species rage maps nearly as often as antmaps does. I would suggest using them from now on, as antwiki is good for information but not so much for maps.

[OgienChomik]

Ah I see that would make sense, I have been using ant wiki for the info. Thanks guys I appreciate the corrections. As for the Camponotus species, how can I help in verifying it as a species in Texas to help update the map if possible? I'll probably have to get a better camera but if there's something I can do to help I'd be happy to! Also if anyone is in the Dallas Fort Worth area wanting this queen I can't keep her due to being a Camponotus, my Father will allow me to keep any other species except that one due to one species that established it's colony in the walls of our laundry room. Unless you can give me enough evidence otherwise that this species won't do that if it escapes I'll have to pass her on to someone else.

Edited by OgienChomik, August 7 2018 - 4:36 PM.

[PheidoleLoverInTexas]

I doubt you still have the camponotus queen but its worth a try to ask since I really want camponotus or any big species but I could take it off your hands.

[OgienChomik]

I actually still have her and I currently got 7 workers, I've done a bit more research and this species does not actually burrow into wood, at least as far as I can tell, and I convinced my dad to let me keep her, if you would like me to I can catch another few queens this coming spring, I've found that there are a ton of colonies of this species in my area.

[texasants]

I would love to have a camponotus queen off your hands