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Antlord: Identification of two species (10. Aug 2008 20:20)

I'm back from my holiday to France and saw alot of cool ants like Crematogaster, C. truncatus, C. Vagus! :)
and many more I didn't know the name of. :?
I was lucky enough to witness a few nuptial flights and I managed to get my hands on these two species. :D
Can someone help me to identify them please?

I think the first one is Lasius emarginatus, isn't it?

I put four of them together because I had only two tubes at the time and I wanted to be sure of success.
I was going to separate them but they laid eggs the next day, so now it's impossible.
I read that they're monogyn , should I leave them like this or try to separate them?

tail__: (10. Aug 2008 21:18)

Yes, spec.1 is claustral Lasius, and i've heard that emarginatus are especially numerous in France. They are very similar to Lasius niger and also monogyn, the queens will start fighting when they will have some workers.
The second could be Messor, but you should say something about her size.

Skippy: (10. Aug 2008 21:36)

now is swarming Solenopsis , maybe these first two are from this kind - tail__ = messor has other head style , last is Lasius ...

miszt: (10. Aug 2008 23:42)

yep 2nd is definitly Lasius

Not sure Solenopsis is right for the first one, she doesnt have a very 'clubbed' attena, but skippy is better at taxonz than me lol

Antlord: (11. Aug 2008 10:33)

The size of spec. 2 is about 6-7mm.
I'm sure it's not Messor, Solenopsis is possible. :?
Thanks for the help! :)

tail__: (11. Aug 2008 11:21)

If so, I'd also say it is Solenopsis fugax or it's close relative, if some exist in France.

Edit: I saw S. fugax nuptial flight today. So it is their time.

miszt: (11. Aug 2008 15:52)

can you take a side shot?

Antlord: (11. Aug 2008 18:18)

No sorry I would have taken one if I could,
but it's not possible from the side because of the scrapes on the plastic.
I will try to make better ones later, I will leave her alone for a while
she had a long journey.

myrmé: (12. Aug 2008 21:51)

It reminds me an Aphaenogaster subterranea, but we are going to be sure with the first workers.