ANTSTORE World of Ants

[tomorrownight]

Have just arrived back from Venice. Very lovely city, not somewhere you would want to go if you were looking for wildlife because there is nothing green there and only people, rats and pigeons live there... or do they!

We discovered a tiny park, only about 30 yards by 10 yards. However i discovered 5 completely different species of Ant there.

I have taken photos, collected individuals and written notes, also i included a photo of the variety of tree i found them on because i cannot recall the name:
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Firstly - a Possible hibernating Temnothorax colony:
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This was the notes i put with them:
"Tiny ant in tiny colony, probably no more than 200. They had already gone into hibernation by the end of October (while other ants in the area were still foraging). They had nested behind an old dead peice of thick ivy rooth that had long been cut and was still clinging to the tree. Upon discovery (and disturbing) they were very sluggish and slow to move their larvae out of the light."


Second - Either a camponutus or Formica species, lovely colours and a barrel chest...:
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and i think this is the same species: Hyperlinks sind nur für registrierte Nutzer sichtbar
The notes:
"Found in a very small park in venice. Going up and down trees (see picture). However they were almost certainly living in the soil at the base of the tree. Where i discovered more, but did not disturb a significant nest or find any young."

Thirdly - A beautiful, what i suspect to be Crematogaster scutellaris:
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Fourthly - my first ever sighting of a soldier in the wild I'm guessing from Pheidole Pallidula?
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notes: "
Found at base of tree in venice. Very small park. Couldnt find the rest of the colony. She is quite small- slightly smaller than a lasisus niger"

And lastly - a black Formica possibly? didn't recognise it... shown here wrestling with the Camponutus. Again found on same tree.
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Tell me what you think, and please do correct my identifications! Does anyone live near venice? We also went to Traviso on the mainland and far less diversification there interestingly. I did however find what looked to be Lasius Niger (yay?)

[Raimund]

Next time you better upload your files to imageshack and just post the album link. I do not expect anyone to actually download your files.

[tomorrownight]

by the way ive changed all the zip files to jpgs for everyone! any ideas on species?

[tomorrownight]

does anyone have any thoughts, i think ive got most of them sussed apart from the Camponotus type ones...