3 replies to this topic

[Jamiesname]

I can't tell one from the other, besides the Aphaenogaster species that are distinctive such as A. Tenn. A. Picea, for example, looks a lot lime some sort of Myrmica to me and I can't tell the difference. What are the major differences that I should be looking for?

[MegaMyrmex]

Apjaenogaster queens have longer and thinner legs. Their heads are somewhat smaller and their thoraxes are larger. Also, it's easy to confuse a myrmica queen with a worker, not very much with aphaenogaster. The gaster and thorax size is the main difference in my opinion. Aphaenogaster- thin head, large thorax, large gaster, long thin legs
Myrmica- blocky head, small thorax, small gaster, stout, short legs

[LC3]

Aphaenogaster tend to have a ‘neck’ and a skinnier head, much longer legs and a really arched convex back (in otherwords a pronounced metanotal groove I believe)

Myrmica tend to have shorter legs, no pronounced metanotal groove and no ‘neck’. All other aspects can be confused with Aphaenogaster on occasion I find. Myrmica also have petioles resembling Tetramorium with a blocky petiole and a rounded stout post petiole compared to the two triangular shaped petiole & petiole node of Aphaenogaster.

[Jamiesname]

Thanks for the info. I have several (what I believe to be) myrmica queens, but they're all different sizes. I have three (one still with wings) that are about 4mm, three (one with wings) that are 5mm, and one that dwarfs the other six at over 6mm. I thought some of them must be Aphaenogaster, but they don't quite fit the bill. They don't taper down behind the head like Aphaenogaster, and their petiole nodes are not triangular.

I'll post them in the ID thread now that I know what to get pictures of.