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Photo#1848580
Ant dealate female - Aphaenogaster fulva - female

Ant dealate female - Aphaenogaster fulva - Female
Cary, Wake County, North Carolina, USA
June 30, 2020
Size: 9-10 mm
Another unknown ant queen, I guess some member of one of our Aphaenogaster complexes (rudis?). There were dozens of these, both alate and dealated, plus more than 150 males I assume were the same species at the UV light in the early morning (mostly lurking in the folds of the sheet, or around the base of it; the males usually in big groups sometimes with an alate female or two, hence the assumption on same species). Maybe 9-10 mm long, the animal tends to stretch the petiole when walking and then 'curls up' a bit when sitting still, as in this image. This species of ant has had on and off presence at the light over the past week or so, but this morning was obviously 'the' flight where so many were present. Previously had been one or a few, usually alates. A few more alates and dealated members of this species, or something indistinguishable from it, have been at the light every morning since, sometimes with a dozen or two of males, too. We had a brief sprinkle the afternoon previously to the capture date, but it didn't seem the type of downpour to trigger a big flight. Many other ants also at the light same time. Residential yard, NW Cary, NC USA.

Moved
Moved from Ants.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

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