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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2012 12:32:49 GMT 1
So today a queen i caught died..... I think it may havr been her container because it used to hold iron filings Anyway her death lead to my closer inspection and i noticed some odd things about her colouration She has a black body with dark brown legs i will try post a picture later Thanks for any help Edit:Slightly redish legs infact
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2012 16:10:44 GMT 1
Shes 9mm long she has a single pedicel node with a 'spike' on it
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2012 17:09:01 GMT 1
It could be Lasius brunneus they have brown/red legs
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2012 21:13:33 GMT 1
uploaded better photos
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 0:30:40 GMT 1
Decent pictures! I'm going to go with Formica lemani.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 0:39:50 GMT 1
Brilliant BSF exalt for the ID thanks
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 18:46:25 GMT 1
Ive been looking around and it may be a Formica (Serviformica) rufibarbis queen.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 19:21:01 GMT 1
Sorry to hear about the death of your queen tttt. *I have reduced the size of your pictures so as to reduce loading time for members with slower computers/devices.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 21:29:08 GMT 1
Ive been looking around and it may be a Formica (Serviformica) rufibarbis queen. Formica rufibarbis is not present in Ireland.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 22:02:49 GMT 1
Okay well what else could it be? Formica fusca/lemani don't have red legs.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 22:09:50 GMT 1
Its defiantly lemani Its legs are a redish brown while fusca is entirely black thanks for your contribution though
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 22:18:59 GMT 1
Ah yeah you are right.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 22:23:25 GMT 1
Okay well what else could it be? Formica fusca/lemani don't have red legs. They can and do! Coloration isn't integral to an identification. Sure, it can be helpful sometimes, but genetic variation can lead to some interesting appearances. For example, consider the red or black head of Messor barbarus. Here's a picture of Formica lemani with red legs: www.mrowki.aplus.pl/galeria/albums/userpics/10001/F.lemani.jpgI've personally found two colonies of ants whose colorations were completely wrong, but other features would make recognizable. Black Formica aserva (supposed to have red head, legs, and thorax): Red Camponotus pennsylvanicus (supposed to be solid black). Queens of this species can also have red or black legs:
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 22:24:59 GMT 1
Wow, that's quite interesting BSF! <exalt +1>
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 22:26:41 GMT 1
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