Flatbush Gardener 🌈

Another cool find in my garden today: the weirdest looking ant I've ever found.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/286181482

A new species for me, and a new species record for my garden, now at 13 Ants, 149 Hymenoptera, and 514 Insect species/taxa.

cc: @futurebird

#iNaturalist #Ants #Formicidae #Hymenoptera #Insects #Bugs #HabitatGardening #Brooklyn #NYC #MasterNaturalist #MacroPhotography #MacroMonday #NaturePhotography

Common Porthole Ant (Ponera pennsylvanica)

Common Porthole Ant from Beverly Square East, New York, United States on June 1, 2025 at 02:22 PM by Chris Kreussling (Flatbush Gardener). Common Porthole Ant (Ponera pennsylvanica) found beneath overturned rock in my backyard, June 2025

iNaturalist
Jun 2, 2025 at 4:19amWeb
Show threadneville parkJun 3, 2025
@xris @futurebird Yes!! I was so surprised when I found my first ones. They almost look like little worms.
Show threadFlatbush Gardener 🌈Jun 3, 2025

@nev @futurebird
It was the odd movement that caught my eye. Very curvy, un-ant-like.

I think the articulation isn't much different, but the long segments exaggerate the bending so much it doesn't read as "ant".