Legionary Ant male, anterior head - Neivamyrmex mandibula

Moved

… v belov, 4 January, 2014 - 11:59pm

This is Neivamyrmex mandibula

This is Neivamyrmex mandibularis, workers are unknown for this species but thought to be either N. melanocephalus or N. graciellae. Very nice shots.

… Gordon C. Snelling, 4 January, 2014 - 9:29pm

Thanks!

I will request a species page in the Request forum, and move the set.

… Edward L. Ruden, 4 January, 2014 - 9:38pm

Glad to help, your specimen l

Glad to help, your specimen lends evidence to the thought that this may be the male of N. graciellae. The only U.S. material I have seen of graciellae is from Florida cyn.

… Gordon C. Snelling, 4 January, 2014 - 11:08pm

Neivamyrmex males vs. workers.

Neivamyrmex were abundant on and around the illuminated sheets during the gathering_2013 event at the top of Madera Canyon Rd. on July 26, 2013. I don't know how many were N. mandibula, and cannot tell if the other posted photos from the event are of that species. If I lived nearby, I would go digging around the nearby forest for their transient nests next July looking for males prior to dispersal to help identify the worker. Perhaps this post will motivate those who do live nearby to do so.

I see from your paper(1) that there are several other species of Neivamyrmex that live in central and north-central NM, where I process detritus samples with a Berlese funnel on a regular basis. I will keep an eye out for the males (with their distinctive sausage-shaped gasters) and attempt to firm up other worker associations, such as for N. minor and N. swainsonii.

… Edward L. Ruden, 5 January, 2014 - 6:42pm