max_devis's Favorites

In Wilhelma (Zoo): I only found them outside, first at some parrot enclosures (see image). The images are from specimen collected there, however, I also found some workers foraging west of it. One worker was also seen at "Terra Australis".
The queen on the third image was found dead and dismantled.
First leg. by @maxalotl

In Wilhelma (Zoo): I'm certainly uncertain regarding the ID, but they were in almost every greenhouse of the zoo, very active too. I used the Antweb "Introduced" page, from those Pheidole I think anastasii is more likely than bilimeki- not sure tho so please feel free to correct me!

Black restless ant Queen with workers

Queen measured around 6mm body length and workers just over 2mm. A previous identical queen has been identified as Plagiolepis fuscula here: http://www.ispotnature.org/node/795344. The workers are almost identical to Lepisiota to my eye with blunt propodeal spines and 2 small spines on petiolar flange however they appear to be smaller than the Lepis at my home. The photos of the workers here are of 3 specimens. Will see what the experts say.

Here's a take:
This species was the most common Zealleyella in the Table mountains and in Montagu. Similar to custodiens but smaller (similar to steingroeveri), legs shorter, less constricted mesosoma, all especially in the largest workers. Because of the silky silver pubescens this species was originally considered a subtaxon of custodiens (see Arnold, 1922). Pubescens are distinctly less than custodiens, however hard to separate in most pictures. Majority of custodiens, rufescens, and steingroeveri observations seem to be this species especially in the western cape area. Since Anoplolepis is not the best devised taxon, there still are taxa like Anoplolepis steingroeveri parsonsi which seems inseparable from fallax, but since fallax stands valid and was described before that subspecies I believe its enough to label this fallax for now

Equipment: LEICA M205-A stereoscopic microscope and software
LASX image stacking
Funded by project: EQC2018-004655-P
Author: Pedro J. Sandoval (University of Granada, Spain)

I was doubting a bit about the species because of the angled propodeum. But according to the density of hairs on the abdomen and habitat it does not seem to be F. gagatoides

• Posterior margin of head with numerous standing setae. nCH>4
  (not uralensis, not gagates/fusca/lemani)

• nHFex: 0-1 (not seysi(<3))

nPe: 1
nHFfl: 7 (on left and right leg)
petiole narrower
length: 9 mm