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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2010 14:42:36 GMT
I need some help in identifying two ant species that I have recently collected. Does anyone know how to go about this? They are both tropical asian species and I think I have identified them at Genera level but am having trouble confirming the species. Any help greatly appreciated.
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Post by Wood~Ant on Jan 6, 2010 8:30:23 GMT
Hi Peter, Have you got any photos or can you give more details? If you think you know the genera and can give some idea as to size and colour, then maybe Quah might have an idea what you've got; but as you can appreciate, it will be difficult to give a positive ID as this can only be obtained from a specimen, usually under a microscope
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2010 13:29:36 GMT
Thanks, I have taken a few photos so will send them once I figure out how to do it. I also have the use of a USB digital microscope so can get some close up shots of appropriate parts if required.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2010 13:41:34 GMT
Hopefully this will be viewable. I reckon its an Asian Odontomachus sp.
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Post by formica on Jan 7, 2010 14:03:39 GMT
The best way to identify ants is to look closely at the head. You should find out what ants live in your area and google them all. When you have some possible matches, enlarge the heads of the photos and compare them. I personally have no idea what type of ant it is.
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Quah
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Post by Quah on Jan 8, 2010 2:41:16 GMT
Wood is right, to identify ants species, unless it is a very distinct species, you really need to look at it at the microscopic level.
You are right about the genus, but I can't really give a positive id unless the sample is examined really closely.
If you know the location in which they originate, that might narrow down the id to a few or even a couple of possible species.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2010 13:05:42 GMT
After some research it seems that this species may be O. rixosus. All the photos on the net seem to match up. The other species I was having trouble identifying was a Camponotus - and I have given up with this as there are so many and several of which are still waiting to be named. I shall simply call it Camponotus sp. Many thanks,
Peter.
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Quah
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Post by Quah on Jan 17, 2010 7:18:55 GMT
Odontomachus rixosus looks very similar. To confirm observe if it jumps as O. rixosus jumps about 20 mm either vertically or horizontally when their nest is disturbed or when they are trying to escape capture (I don't mean by snapping their trapjaws which they also use to catapult themselves a farther and higher distance of about 100mm). I have collected some specimens of this species and have photos of them at my termitesandants.blogspot.com website. termitesandants.blogspot.com/2009/09/trap-jaws-ants-of-malaysia-odontomachus.html
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2010 14:38:35 GMT
Thanks Quah,
Your photos of O. rixosus look identical to the ants I have. I also noticed that they can jump when disturbed.
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