myrmepropagandist6d ago

RE: https://sauropods.win/@futurebird/116557781352191773

I had the WRONG ID on these ants.

To make an excuse I fist saw this colony two years ago when I wasn't as good at identifying ants (this implies that I'm good at it now, I'm not, I'm just much better)

Any way this is isn't the chestnut carpenter ant. It's Formica pallidefulva.

And I'm mad since It was staring me in the face. Her antennae are too close to her clypeus and her back isn't enough of a "hump"

Formica pallidefulva comes in a bunch of different colors just to be confusing.

Show threadmyrmepropagandist6d ago

Here is one reason I know the Camponotus ID is wrong. You see the "clypeus" is basically the ant upper lip? The plate right above the mandibles.

In carpenter ants the antennae are set a bit above it. There is a gap. Makes them look a bit like cabbage patch kids.

But in the ants I was observing look? No gap at all. Her antennae are attached right to the top of the clypeus.

Now we can all avoid this mistake in the future.

Show threadveebs6d ago
@futurebird these notes give me flashbacks to grass IDs
Show threadmyrmepropagandist6d ago

@SarraceniaWilds

I don't even want to know. I have been trying to learn my "basic trees" and it's been a little painful.

Grass... that sounds like some advanced stuff.

Show threadveebs
@futurebird deciduous trees winter id is fun. and yeah. grass ID is reserved for the true plant perverts.
May 27 at 1:42amWeb