Tiny Ant Queen
(EDIT: Reader John Gilmore points out that ants have jointed antennae, and this bug does not. This is not an ant at all, but a wasp! Had I known this, I would NOT have been so bold to handle it! I have recategorized the image, but have left the title and post alone. This just further goes to show that I’m not an entomologist. The original, and wildly inaccurate, post follows.)
Queens were flying out here a couple of months ago, and this tiny one flew into the house. She’s just mated and is looking for a place to settle down. (Unless she’s a male and he’s done his job and waiting to die.) She’s about 4mm long: that’s my pinky finger.
I don’t know the species, but she’s the right size for the various Myrmica species we get out here, like these.
John Gilmore said,
November 29, 2007 @ 5:39 am
That’s not a queen ant - ants have an “elbow” about halfway up their antennas. This little one’s antennas are smoothly jointed. She’s a wasp, not an ant. Probably one of the many types of parasitic wasps. I couldn’t tell you which sort, but I do know that it’s not an ant. Actually, Honeybees and a few others (can’t remember which) have the jointed antennas too - has something to to with being social, if I recall correctly.
Kazriko said,
November 29, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
We had some of these little things hanging out in our office a month or two back. I helped them back outside. We were wondering what sort of bee/wasp/hornet they were.
David Brady said,
November 29, 2007 @ 2:02 pm
John — I updated the post, thanks for the comment.
I wish I had a better resolution image, though. Look at the shape of the head–it’s flat and kind of lozenge-shaped, more like a termite or ant than most wasps I know. I wonder if it’s might be some third possibility.
Then again, I’ve established my lack of credibility here… I’ll go with wasp until we know better.