Whenever I see an ant in wildlife photography or video and the caption fails to mention it, or the video presenter doesn't say anything about it I *must* write a comment about the ant pointing it out to everyone and doing my best to find the species a...
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@futurebird Hello. I used to feature ants in my short video loops on occasion. Some ants are so lucky to live in beautiful places. Fascinating creatures.
If you can tell us anything about this little ant, that’d be wonderful. Thank you. (More info on AltText
What is the location. That's a carpenter ant genus Camponotus. But to narrow it down to species it'd help to know the location. I think it might be Camponotus americanus or castaneus maybe.
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What is the location. That's a carpenter ant genus Camponotus. But to narrow it down to species it'd help to know the location. I think it might be Camponotus americanus or castaneus maybe.
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@futurebird Thank you. It’s in Hingham Massachusetts.
That makes Camponotus americanus my best guess, though it can be easy to confuse the closely related carpenter ants in this region.
These ants live in wood or in soil and love forested areas and damp piles of wood or stumps of trees. This worker is a median or minor. They can also produce majors who are a bit larger with wider heads.
Gentle ants.
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What is the location. That's a carpenter ant genus Camponotus. But to narrow it down to species it'd help to know the location. I think it might be Camponotus americanus or castaneus maybe.
@futurebird I’m assuming this is also a carpenter ant? This one was in Medford, MA.
Ants make a wonderful subject to film around. 🥰
#MiddlesexFells #ants #bugsAreCool
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@futurebird I’m assuming this is also a carpenter ant? This one was in Medford, MA.
Ants make a wonderful subject to film around. 🥰#MiddlesexFells #ants #bugsAreCool
Yes! That's almost certainly Camponotus pennsylvanicus. I keep a rather large colony. They make wonderful pets. My queen is going on her 5th year. The queens can live for a decade or more. They are among the largest ants in North America, and fairly common, but still delightful to watch.
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@futurebird I’m assuming this is also a carpenter ant? This one was in Medford, MA.
Ants make a wonderful subject to film around. 🥰#MiddlesexFells #ants #bugsAreCool
I love these videos!
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Can you get a photo of one of the scouts? The more clear and well lit and close up the better.
@futurebird Well, here's one clear photo where the ant is in the corner and a little cut off, and one where she's centered but slightly blurry.
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@futurebird Well, here's one clear photo where the ant is in the corner and a little cut off, and one where she's centered but slightly blurry.
Based on the location (in a house in the US) the size shape and color and texture of the gaster this is probably Tapinoma sessile, the "odorous house ant" they are a hearty native species in the US, can be "pesty" since they find many ways to exploit human environments. They are moisture loving and I think if you see them indoors their nest isn't probably far away, they are probably living somewhere in the house.
Follow them carefully and find out where they are getting water.
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@futurebird Well, here's one clear photo where the ant is in the corner and a little cut off, and one where she's centered but slightly blurry.
I feel confident about "Tapinoma sessile" but these photos aren't good enough to be totally certain.
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Based on the location (in a house in the US) the size shape and color and texture of the gaster this is probably Tapinoma sessile, the "odorous house ant" they are a hearty native species in the US, can be "pesty" since they find many ways to exploit human environments. They are moisture loving and I think if you see them indoors their nest isn't probably far away, they are probably living somewhere in the house.
Follow them carefully and find out where they are getting water.
@futurebird Jeez. I have some immediate ideas - drippy bathroom faucet, for one - but this is quite a humid climate, lots of coastal fog.
When I locate them, how should I proceed? Can I convince them to leave, or have they doomed themselves?
Also, how would you advise preventing future incursions - like, what are the common points of ingress that might need maintenance? There are lots of small things here that need TLC, priorities are useful.
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@futurebird Jeez. I have some immediate ideas - drippy bathroom faucet, for one - but this is quite a humid climate, lots of coastal fog.
When I locate them, how should I proceed? Can I convince them to leave, or have they doomed themselves?
Also, how would you advise preventing future incursions - like, what are the common points of ingress that might need maintenance? There are lots of small things here that need TLC, priorities are useful.
I think you are on the right track with water being key. If you cut off their water and they have a way outside and can find water there they may leave.
They may be in a place you can't access so sealing them in would force them to find somewhere else to go or perish.
But, you don't really want their nest in your house. Sealing & drying can drive them off.
Also keep an eye out for any sweets they've gotten into.
The queen got in somehow and they might go out the same way.
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@futurebird Jeez. I have some immediate ideas - drippy bathroom faucet, for one - but this is quite a humid climate, lots of coastal fog.
When I locate them, how should I proceed? Can I convince them to leave, or have they doomed themselves?
Also, how would you advise preventing future incursions - like, what are the common points of ingress that might need maintenance? There are lots of small things here that need TLC, priorities are useful.
They are kinda doomed poor girls but their mom probably made a bad call when she thought a warm sink was a jackpot.
They are not directly harmful, but you don't want them in a pantry. Their numbers would explode and it would be "too many ants."
