#wildant

[adragonsoulants]

So as usual, I was just hanging out outside enjoying the weather and I happened to walk by the garage door and low and behold. I see an ant queen crawling on it!

Pretty lady, a good size but smaller than a C. Penn queen. Notable feature is the upper part of her gaster has silvery reflective hairs.

I think she may be a Lasius americanus? However she doesn't look like any paracitic lasius ant, the gaster is too large and mandibles look to small.

I did see a second queen shortly after catching this one but I left her alone.

[adragonsoulants]

(originally posted Nov/24/21)

While I was out isopod hunting I can across this beautiful little ant, it was one of the most shiny ants I've seen!

Alas IDing ants is not my strong suit, I got lucky that the one ant I collected is super easy to ID. To the best of my ability I think that they are Formica neogagates.

Ants can be particularly hard to ID as the difference between two species can be as little as the posture of the hairs on their abdomen. Something you need a microscope for haha

Because of the cold the two that we found were moving quite slow and their leg movement were almost rythmic, it was so captivating to watch.

[adragonsoulants]

(Originally posted July/ 30/ 2021)

A wild group of ants, red banded carpenter ants I think? Tending to their heard of aphids on a milk weed plant. Such a cool sight to see!