Santa Claus: Formica ??? (28. Mär 2006 08:41)

Hi there!
Tell me please what is the kind of Formica below?

http://www.antstore.net/gallery/upload/3b2d871a623e4d34153a17a6e06734dc.jpg
http://www.antstore.net/gallery/upload/38f15dc67d44ca1a5c079477b5cb0629.jpg
http://www.antstore.net/gallery/upload/e852b59adaac299d6f2bb0acb228ceb7.jpg
http://www.antstore.net/gallery/upload/a3924b4eac1dfa40b8d7a2f68cdd1bb8.jpg
http://www.antstore.net/gallery/upload/94d375970b7582605edcf800ec897012.jpg

Santa Claus: (28. Mär 2006 11:56)

Hello Gorilla!

Here my answers (sorry of my English):

I need more details like size, area you found them (country and habitat).
size: about 5-5.5mm (smaller than F rufibarbis)
country: Ukraine (they had been found on border of a coniferous forest)

For right now it could be Formica polyctena (Förster 1850), pressilabris (Nylander 1846) or bruni (Kutter 1966) I would say.
They have a pedicel in the form of heart

Please describe also how the area looks arround the nest!
area arround the nest - high grass
ants uses little shards of grass, granules and some garbage for their anthill

Is it dry? - Yes
At the edge of a forest or in the centre? - at the edge
Ist there high gras or is it rather sandy? - hight grass
It aint that easy like showing a picture and everybody knows what it is.
So if you need it exact please help me to correctly name it.
Happy antkeeping
Gorilla

kaefer: Formica ??? (29. Mai 2006 15:11)

The ant above is not Formica cunicularia. It belongs to the subgenus Coptoformica, probably Formica exsecta, but you can't say it for sure. You have to investigate the speciement.
kaefer

Santa Claus: (29. Mai 2006 15:55)

Let me know how to realize this investigation?

kaefer: Formica ??? (29. Mai 2006 20:13)

Hi Santa Claus,

do you see the humps on the back of the head? They are developed in this way only in the Coptoformica subgenus, at least in European Formicas. There are maybe 5 species in the Ukraine, the most frequent is Formica exsecta and has visible hairs on the eyes and bristles at the back of the first gaster-tergit. I wrote you a pm.
CU kaefer

Santa Claus: (16. Jun 2006 15:59)

I'll make necessary photo when visit the forest next time :)

Santa Claus: (18. Aug 2006 14:29)

May be this photos will help you to identify this kind?

http://www.antstore.net/gallery/upload/46e142018d0a2a7f63398852f7aed27e.jpg

http://www.antstore.net/gallery/upload/25c7786c74f87f261536cca8c7a13599.jpg

kaefer: (25. Aug 2006 19:28)

Hi Santa Claus,

just saw your reply with the pictures. It is not possible to determine this species this way, at least not with this magnification. As I wrote above you have to look for visible hairs on the eyes and bristles at the back of the first gaster-tergit. It is not easy and you have to compare at least three ants from the nest. I wrote you my adress in a pm. If you want the name of this species, please send me some ants.
CU kaefer

Santa Claus: (28. Aug 2006 07:44)

I'll send you ants for determine this species. Wait for your address...

briangray4: re ant pictures (12. Sep 2006 21:59)

I cant help with you finding out what species it is but i have to say those are some brilliant pictures santa!!
Well done you must be a good photographer :)

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