Ants of Virginia - still undergoing revisions

Genus - Camponotus

Subgenus Myrmentoma

Camponotus nearcticus - most common, multiple color morphs, can be polygynous

Camponotus subbarbatus - 2nd most common, varies in color, some populations polygynous

Camponotus caryae - hairy malar area separates this species from nearcticus, nests in hickory

Camponotus decipiens - uncommon and restricted to the southeast

Camponotus discolor - rare and scattered populations in the south

Camponotus snellingi - smallest queens

Subgenus Camponotus sensu stricto

Camponotus pennsylanicus - nests in drier wood

Camponotus chromaiodes - nests in rotten wood

Camponotus americanus - small populations scattered across north and central VA with healthy populations lining the Appalachians

Camponotus novaeboracensis - extremely rare in Virginia

Camponotus herculeanus - rare in VA, gets majors earlier

Subgenus Tanaemyrmex

Camponotus castaneus (movement to sensu stricto pending)

Genus - Colobopsis

Colobopsis impressa - largest of the three species, queens have much less pubsecence on the top of the head and generally have three yellow bands on the gaster.

 Colobopsis obliqua - This species founds best with multiple queens. I find tqueens is best. Queens rarely shed their wings, even if they are fertile. 

Colobopsis mississippiensis - smallest Colobopsis in Virginia, queens have a circular face

Genus - Formica

Subgenus Seriformica (slaves)

  Formica fusca-group

Formica subsericea - most common

Formica argentea

Formica subaenescens

Formica neorufibarbis

  Formica pallidefulva-group

Formica pallidefulva

Formica incerta

Formica dolosa

Formica biophlica

  Formica neogagates-group

Formica neogagates

Subgenus Coptoformica (mound building)

  Formica exsecta-group

Formica exsectoides

Subgenus Raptiformica (slave raiders)

  Formica sanguinea-group 

  Formica aserva (facultative)

  Formica pergandei

  Formica subintegra (obligate)

  Formica rubicunda 

Subgenus Formica (mound building)

  Formica rufa-group (Nearctic species split into integra, dakotensis, and microgyna groups)

  Formica integra-group

  Formica integra

  Formica obscuriventris

  Formica microgyna-group

  Formica difficilis

  Formica postoculata

Genus Polyergus

  Polyergus lucidus

  Polyergus ruber

  Polyergus mo

Genus - Lasius

  Subgenus Chthonolasius (parasites)

   Lasius aphidicola - extremely common

   Lasius speculiventris - lacking pubescence on the gaster creating a distinct shine

   Lasius minutus - swamps, mound building

  Subgenus Acanthomyops (parasites) 

   Lasius claviger - extremely common

   Lasius interjectus - very common, flies year-round

   Lasius murphyi

   Lasius latipes

   Lasius subglaber

Genus - Lasius cont.

  Subgenus Lasius sensu stricto

   Lasius neoniger - suberect hairs on the scape and nests in open areas, such as fields and lawns

   Lasius americanus - mostly found in woodland but may nest in trees, under rocks, and in logs

   Lasius pallitarsis - subterranean, bristly scapes

  Subgenus Cautolasius

   Lasius brevicornis - nests in open areas

   Lasius nearcticus - nests in forests

Genus - Nylanderia

Nylanderia flavipes - invasive from East Asia

Nylanderia faisonensis - pale coxae, woodland ants

Nylanderia vividula - range stretches across the US, bicolored

Nylanderia concinna

Nylanderia parvula - sandy forests

Nylanderia arenivaga - largest, sand nesting, yellow

Genus - Prenolepis

Prenolepis imparis - false honeypot ants, winter ants, go through estivation and diapause

Genus - Brachymyrmex

Brachymyrmex depilis - B. depilis is a complex of several different species. Some flights in spring, majority in mid-late fall. 

Genus - Pheidole

   Pheidole pilifera-group

   Pheidole bicarinata

   Pheidole pilifera

   Pheidole davisi - full black

   Pheidole flavens-group

   Pheidole tysoni - morning flier

   Pheidole fallax-group

   Pheidole dentata

   Pheidole morrisii - 50k worker colonies, extremely active and confined to pure sand

Genus - Strumigenys

   Strumigenys sensu stricto

   Strumigenys louisianae

   Pyramica

   Strumigenys rostrata

   Strumigenys membranifera

   etc

Subtribe Attina

Genus - Trachymyrmex

   Trachymyrmex septentrionalis - scattered populations throughout the state, likely follows rivers

Genus - Temnothorax (from https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/New_World_Temnothorax_species_groups#)

  Temnothorax schaumii-group

  Temnothorax curvispinosus 

  Temnothorax ambiguus

  Temnothorax schaumii

  Temnothorax minutissimus

  Temnothorax tricarinatus-group

  Temnothorax texanus

  Temnothorax longispinosus-group

  Temothorax longispinosus

  Temnothorax tuscaloosae

  Temnothorax pergandei-group

  Temnothorax pergandei - three color morphs

  Fomerly Protomognathus

  Temnothorax americanus - slave raiding

Genus - Crematogaster

  Crematogaster sensu stricto (see here)

  Crematogaster ashmeadi

  Crematogaster cerasi

  Crematogaster lineolata - polygynous

  Crematogaster pilosa - all eastern laeviuscula is pilosa

  Crematogaster vermiculata

Genus - Tetramorium

  Tetramorium caespitum-complex

   Tetramorium immigrans

  Fomerly Anergates

  Tetramorium atratulum

Genus - Vollenhovia

   Vollenhovia emeryi - brachypterous

   Vollenhovia nipponica - i

Genus - Myrmecina

    Myrmecina americana - mite eating

Genus - Aphaeonogaster

  Aphaenogaster fulva-rudis-texana complex

Aphaenogaster rudis (N22A)- most common
N22B- different from rudis, more common in the western portion of the rudis population

Aphaenogaster fulva - clearly different from other species, bright red gaster, largest colonies in complex

Aphaenogaster picea - most cold tolerant, mainly restricted to Appalachians in VA

Aphaenogaster carolinensis - Similar to rudis

Aphaenogaster miamiana - different head shape than carolinensis

Other Aphaenogaster

Aphaenogaster tennesseensis - common, temporary parasite, large colonies

Aphaenogaster treatae - sand nesting

Aphaenogaster ashmeadi 

Aphaenogaster lamellidens - common in certain areas

Aphaenogaster mariae - temporary parasite, arboreal, punctate thorax and head, rare

Aphaenogaster floridana - no propodeal spines, sand nesting

Aphaenogaster flemingi

Genus - Stenamma

Stenamma brevicorne

Stenamma diecki

Stenamma impar

Stenamma meridionale

Stenamma schmitti

Genus - Myrmica

Myrmica americana

Myrmica fracticornis

Myrmica latifrons

Myrmica pinetorum

Myrmica punctiventris

Myrmica spatulata

Genus - Solenopsis

  Solenopsis molesta-group

  Solenopsis molesta

  Solenopsis carolinensis - smaller than molesta, morning flier

  Solenopsis texana

  Solenopsis pergandei

  Solenopsis saevissima-group

  Solenopsis invicta - restricted to southeast

Genus - Monomorium

  Monomorium-minimum group

  Monomorium minimum - can be found under bark, rocks, and in sandy soil

  Monomorium viridum - ergatoids

  Monomorium emarginatum

Genus - Tapinoma

Tapinoma sessile is, in reality, multiple different species. This species is currently undergoing taxonomic revision. Some colonies may have hundreds of queens, while others are monogynous. When crushed, they emit an easily identifiable odor. This is probably the easiest species in Virginia to identify with taste and smell.

Genus - Dorymyrmex

Dorymyrmex bureni, also known as pyramid ants, are notable for their mound shape. Workers are very fast and are difficult to feed in a tube. This species is monogynous and monomorphic.

Genus - Forelius

Forelius pruinosus has several different color variants. This species is polygynous and monomorphic.

Genus - Dolichoderus

Dolichoderus mariae

Dolichoderus plagiatus

Dolichoderus pustulatus

Dolichoderus taschenbergi

Ponera pennsylvanica is the most common Ponerine in the majority of the state. This species is small, polygynous, and has small colonies. Workers and queens can commonly be found foraging under rocks. This species flies alongside Myrmecina americana.

Ponera exotica is the smallest Ponerine in the state. With workers sitting at a miniscule 2mm, this species is uncommonly found in Virginia.

Hypoponera opacior is a small, cryptic ant that commonly flies alongside Colobopsis obliqua, Tapinoma sessile, Temnothorax curvispinosus, Temnothorax ambiguus, and Pheidole bicarinata. This species can be easily differentiated from Ponera pennsylvanica through the lack of a "tooth" under the petiole. 

antweb image: https://www.antwiki.org/wiki/File:Ponera_pennsylvanica_casent0003322_profile_1.jpg

Brachyponera chinensis is an invasive species from East Asia. Colonies grow to massive sizes, often reaching over 5000 workers. This species is very polygynous and workers will tolerate other workers from different colonies. 

Stigmatomma pallipes workers can commonly be found foraging for centipedes in the order Geophilomorpha under rocks and moss. I have found alates during flights of Lasius murphyi, Solenopsis molesta, and Brachymyrmex depilis.

Genus - Proceratium

Pergandei clade

Proceratium pergandei

Silaceum clade

Proceratium crassicorne

Proceratium croceum

Proceratium silaceum

Genus - Discothyrea

Discothyrea testacea is a very rare cryptic ant that has only been recorded a couple times in Virginia. Workers and queens are yellow/orange.

There are few records of Pseudomyrmex pallidus in Virginia. Queens and workers are small and bright yellow. As the name suggests, Pseudomyrmex nest in twigs and small branches. This species reportedly has a nasty sting.

Neivamyrmex carolinensis

Neivamyrmex nigrescens

Neivamyrmex opacithorax

Neivamyrmex texanus