Monday Night Mystery

We haven't done an ant mystery for ages. So here you go:

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Although I photographed this little ant in Florida, it could just as easily have been in a number of tropical places.

Five points each for the first person to pick the genus and the species.

The cumulative points winner for the month of May will win either 1) any 8x10 print from my insect photo galleries, or 2) a guest blog post on the (safe-for-work) topic of their choosing.

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Ok. Now you guys have asked for it. Apparently the mysteries haven't been quite obscure enough. So here you go. A real challenge: One point for order, three points for family, three points for genus, and three for species. Points are awarded for the first correct guess in each category. The…
What is this odd little beast? Five points each for the first person to pick the order and the family. The cumulative points winner for the month of May will win either 1) any 8x10 print from my insect photo galleries, or 2) a guest blog post on the (safe-for-work) topic of their choosing.
What's this? 2 points for naming the structure, 4 for family, and 4 for genus/species. The cumulative points winner for the month of May will win either 1) any 8x10 print from my insect photo galleries, or 2) a guest blog post on the (safe-for-work) topic of their choosing.
Ok, bug experts. Who is this charming little insect? Points will be awarded for the first correct guess: five for family and five for genus. The cumulative points winner for the month of July will win either 1) any 8x10 print from my insect photo gallery, or 2) a guest blog post on the (safe-for-…

My first guess: Temnothorax palustris?

Wasmannia auropunctata

By James C. Trager (not verified) on 17 May 2010 #permalink

I'll have to say my final guess would be Tetramorium simillimum, or at least "near T. simillimum".

Damn, JCT beat me to W. auropunctata. She is an awfully cute for such a pesky little ant, though.

By Julie Stahlhut (not verified) on 17 May 2010 #permalink

Dang, I am too slow today. James, how's the Polyergus treating you these days?

By Joshua King (not verified) on 18 May 2010 #permalink

This photograph is fantastic. In fact, in several ways, insects are much developed than us. They have their own societies and culture. Only because of our arrogance, we think we are more developed.

Darn, I jumped the gun on this one. I think Jason has it. Either that, or it's the recently characterized Formica microflava.

@ Josh -- Still some difficulties out west...

By James C. Trager (not verified) on 18 May 2010 #permalink