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damondeionno: Temnothorax nylanderi (25. Jul 2008 16:06)

I purchased a colony of Temnothorax nylanderi from Antstore after finding a wild colony of what I assumed were T nylanderi a couple of weekends ago.

First, the colony I have received is not the same species as the one I found in the wild. I really don't know what species I observed. It was a myrmicine. It was less slender than the species I have received. It was nesting in a tiny crevice in the bark of a Beech tree. The workers were fairly slow moving, a light brown colour. They were passive to both M. ruginodis workers and also L. brunneus. If anyone can give any tips on what this UK species was, that would be great.

Additionally, it appears to me that the colony I received from Anstore is missing a queen. I am having difficulty in being categorical about this because of the way the Ants are nesting in the tube. Going on the pictures of T nylanderi on Anstore with queen and workers, I am fairly sure that there isn't an ant in the tube that is notably bigger than the others.

Can anyone help?

miszt: (25. Jul 2008 17:07)

Temnothorax are very timid, its possible the queen is hiding, there are many diffrent species of Temnothorax in the UK, some look very similar, some dont, maybe have a look on Antweb.org, you may be able to work out roughly what you found, however Temnothorax are hard to tell apart as some of the diffrences can be impossible to see, espcially without a microscope

damondeionno: (25. Jul 2008 17:27)

Thanks Miszt. Antweb doesn't seem to list UK species and there are a huge number of Temnothorax worldwide.

I am building some accomodation for them tonight, so they will be coming out of the tube. I will check for a queen then.

miszt: (25. Jul 2008 17:38)

this should help...

http://www.bwars.com/ :)