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Maryland Queen ID 8/22/2018

Started By cook447 , Aug 22 2018 6:44 PM

Best Answer cook447 , August 23 2018 - 7:25 PM

Thanks for all the help guys! I'm hoping at least one of these five is fertile and develops into a colony. 2 of the 5 I caught are winged but the other 3 are wingless. Sadly one of the wingless queens had a somewhat crushed gaster when I found it and it didn't survive the night. But the other 4 are still going strong.

I'm fairly new to this so I was wondering if anyone here knows if I should expect them to lay eggs before or after the winter? I know some species of ant hibernate but I was having trouble finding information on if I should expect/be concerned if none of the queens lay before the winter. Would that depend on the subspecies of Lasius that I have?

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6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline cook447 - Posted August 22 2018 - 6:44 PM

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I collected five queen ants in the backyard of a friend's suburban house in Maryland on 8/22/2018 in the early evening (between 7-9pm). The queens were collected from on top of patches of rock in a mostly grassy area. I'm fairly positive whatever species these ants are were having a nuptial flight in my area today since I saw many small (presumably) male alates flying around and then I was able to find quite a few female alates (with and without wings) scurrying about. The queen is 3/8 of an inch long so between 9-10mm. The ant has a black head and thorax but the abdomen is somewhat brown and hairy.

Can anyone help me ID these ants? (and confirm that they are queens)

Picture of the ants here: https://imgur.com/gallery/dgwwJxY

#2 Offline EthanNgo678 - Posted August 22 2018 - 7:30 PM

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LocationMarin, Ca

Those seem to be queens. Possibly Lasius.

Plants r cool

#3 Offline rbarreto - Posted August 22 2018 - 7:49 PM

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Lasius pallitarsis or neoniger.

My journal featuring most of my ants.

My other journal featuring Formica Bradleyi.

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#4 Offline Batspiderfish - Posted August 23 2018 - 1:13 PM

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I wouldn't rule out L. nearcticus/L. brevicornis either, but we'd need a very close look to identify to the species at all.

Edited by Batspiderfish, August 23 2018 - 1:13 PM.

If you've enjoyed using my expertise and identifications, please do not create undue ecological risk by releasing your ants. The environment which we keep our pet insects is alien and oftentimes unsanitary, so ensure that wild populations stay safe by giving your ants the best care you can manage for the rest of their lives, as we must do with any other pet.

Exotic ants are for those who think that vibrant diversity is something you need to pay money to see. It is illegal to transport live ants across state lines.

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Black lives still matter.