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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Bees, Ants, and other Stinging Wasps » Vespoidea » Ants (Formicidae) » Formicinae » False Honey Ants (Prenolepis) » False Honey Ant (Prenolepis imparis)
Photo#172105
Ant or Wasp? - Prenolepis imparis
Copyright © 2008 HandsOff

Ant or Wasp? - Prenolepis imparis
Sunnyvale, Santa Clara County, California, USA
March 4, 2008
Any thoughts on this reddish winged insect?

Images of this individual: tag all
Ant or Wasp? - Prenolepis imparis Ant or Wasp? - Prenolepis imparis
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Contributed by HandsOff on 6 March, 2008 - 2:41am
Last updated 11 March, 2008 - 6:21pm

Thanks-
...for a lot of good information! It does sort of make one wonder what a true honey ant is, in the few "false" hymenopterans that I've come across gave me the impression that the disguise was useful to dissuade would-be diners. Somehow, I don't imagine a lot of ant predators are going to be intimidated by this charade.
… HandsOff, 10 March, 2008 - 5:55am login or register to post comments

a reddish winged Ant...
at any rate, but I'm quite unsure of the gender. Such distinctly elbowed antennae, and the relatively light color, are rather rare among male ants.
Moreover, an acidopore, the hallmark for females and workers of the Formicinae subfamily, seems to be visible at the apex of the gaster (abdomen). Absence of a closed "discoidal" cell on forewings suggests a Prenolepis imparis (False Honey Ant) winged female.
… Richard Vernier, 6 March, 2008 - 10:52am login or register to post comments

 
I do believe Richard got it.
I do believe Richard got it.
… Gordon C. Snelling, 8 March, 2008 - 10:50am login or register to post comments

I'd
say it looks more like a male ant of some species...
… vespula vulgaris, 6 March, 2008 - 5:53am login or register to post comments

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