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Queen Ant ID (Temnothorax caguatan) (Trabuco Canyon, California) (8-8-2014)

ant id queen ant alate dspdrew trabuco canyon california

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6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline dspdrew - Posted August 8 2014 - 10:17 PM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

1. Location of collection: Trabuco Canyon, California.
2. Date of collection: 7-24-2014.
3. Habitat of collection: Chaparral/Oak Forest.
4. Length (from head to gaster): 5mm.
5. Color, hue, pattern and texture: Head and thorax rugose; brown head, redish-orange thorax, dark brown gaster.
6. Distinguishing characteristics:

 

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worker

 

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Edit: Added microscope pictures of one of this queen's nanitic workers.


Edited by dspdrew, June 3 2015 - 12:42 AM.


#2 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 8 2014 - 10:37 PM

Gregory2455

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How do you keep finding all these cool things?  :D



#3 Offline dspdrew - Posted August 9 2014 - 12:14 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Black light. :yes:



#4 Offline Gregory2455 - Posted August 9 2014 - 12:40 AM

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I have been looking for a good one, where did you get it?



#5 Offline dspdrew - Posted August 9 2014 - 1:04 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

Walmart sells them for pretty cheap.



#6 Offline dspdrew - Posted August 15 2014 - 9:25 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

James C. Trager believes this to be a big Temnothorax sp.



#7 Offline dspdrew - Posted June 3 2015 - 12:41 AM

dspdrew
  • LocationSanta Ana, CA

I added microscope pictures of one of the nanitic workers, and now I can see this queen is Temnothorax caguatan. The only two Temnothorax species in California with 11 antennal segments, and propodeal spines this long are T. caguatan and T. rugatulus, according to AntWiki. Apparently T. caguatan have a slightly longer, more obtuse petiole node and thicker hind femur. This can clearly be seen when comparing the pictures on AntWeb.

 

This diagram I made shows the difference between the petiole nodes.

 

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Here is the profile view of one of this queen's nanitics. I think you can clearly see it has the longer petiole node. It also has a pretty bulky hind femur.

 

med_gallery_2_235_149031.jpg


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Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: ant id, queen ant, alate, dspdrew, trabuco canyon, california

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