Myrmecos is an ant blog. This evening’s challenge returns to our roots with a straight-up ant identification.
What is it?
The first commentator to guess the Genus will win ten points. For full credit, answers must be accompanied by supporting character information.
The cumulative points winner for the month of January will take home their choice of 1) any 8×10-sized print from my photo galleries, or 2) a guest post here on Myrmecos.
Here’s a hint: I took this photograph in Australia. Good luck!
Prolasius. This ant has one-segmented waist, but not the characteristic “dolichderine look” with eyes placed relatively close together on frons, towards Formicinae. Apparently 12-segmented antennae, lack of any spines, shiny look and the characteristic shape of propodeum suggest Prolasius.
I wanted to write, “which points towards Formicinae” but, for some reason, I was in a rush and lost a few words 😉
Lasius
No Lasius within thousands of miles of Australia, Andrew.
:-(…I’m a newb.
It isn’t in my (showing off now) signed (end of showing off) book ‘Ants of Brisbane’.
First guess was going to be Ochetellus, looking at the shape of the propodeum, but upon further thought I have to second Marek’s identification.
Maybe if it had been from Fiji or the Solomon Islands I could have done better with it… alas… too limited knowledge!
I can see the acidopore, though out of focus. Wish I knew my austral form iciness better. Too late anyway, as it looks like Marek got it.
Form iciness = formicines! Stupid auto-correct!
Drawing upon my copious scientific expertise, I can assure y’all this critter is in no ways a protist! [/useful taxonomic contribution]
Also, why does there appear to be more myrmecologists than protistologists? No fair, we’re phylogenetically bigger! ;p
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