Post ApzMeojuMwq6pOUpIe by jmccyoung@mstdn.social
(DIR) More posts by jmccyoung@mstdn.social
(DIR) Post #ApzL3FchrqBrFSePY0 by tayfonay@beige.party
2025-01-11T23:47:16Z
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Long shot but can anyone identify this bug? They get stuck in the surf on beaches in Kauai, perhaps other Hawaiian islands IDK. This was taken on Hanakapiai beach back in November. I naturalist is like š¤·āāļø might be a vespoid wasp. Itās about an inch long. #bugs #insects #hawaii #kauai
(DIR) Post #ApzLybigNzsqHknOYi by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-01-12T00:03:29Z
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@tayfonay It's a little ant/wasp like, but there isn't a petiole, it has a wide waist. Hmmm.
(DIR) Post #ApzMIVp41MD1mtGupM by tayfonay@beige.party
2025-01-12T00:07:04Z
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@futurebird I thought it was a bee, but then took the picture and zoomed in and was like not a bee š they get trapped in the surf on the beach sometimes. Thereās a lot of driftwood so I guess a carpenter ant would make sense as others have suggested?
(DIR) Post #ApzMeojuMwq6pOUpIe by jmccyoung@mstdn.social
2025-01-11T23:58:23Z
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@jcrabapple @tayfonay Google Lens, using the image plus the word "Hawaii," does in fact suggest it's a Hawaiian Carpenter Ant: https://veseris.com/default/resources/post/hawaiian-carpenter-ant cc @futurebird
(DIR) Post #ApzMfdiapb5gw5GzpY by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-01-12T00:11:17Z
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@jmccyoung @jcrabapple @tayfonay What an odd ant!
(DIR) Post #ApzMpaxTwmbxGvz6CO by MedeaVanamonde@chaosfem.tw
2025-01-12T00:12:22Z
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@tayfonay @futurebird A winged ant!!!!!!
(DIR) Post #ApzMpbze6Dw6Tw0LD6 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-01-12T00:13:01Z
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@MedeaVanamonde @tayfonay If it's an ant it's a queen no doubt. The "thick middle" made me suspicious it was a wasp... but few other insects have scapes.
(DIR) Post #ApzNOX1cYwvBD0ZzMm by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-01-12T00:19:23Z
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@Nazani @jmccyoung @jcrabapple @tayfonay Carpenter. Ants. Do. Not. Eat. Wood.They build their nests in wood that is softened by water or termite damage. They also eat termites. They do not turn buildings that aren't already rotten into sawdust.
(DIR) Post #ApzNbjpYGQu0gkEPlA by MedeaVanamonde@chaosfem.tw
2025-01-12T00:21:45Z
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@futurebird @tayfonay The Marriage and Honeymoon flight ya think?
(DIR) Post #ApzOMWDwfdXo6BwqP2 by janinevigus@mastodon.world
2025-01-12T00:30:11Z
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@futurebird @Nazani @jmccyoung @jcrabapple @tayfonay thank you for that! I always thought they were eatingā¦
(DIR) Post #ApzObWxqCUqWjqZd3Y by preferred@expressional.social
2025-01-12T00:32:57Z
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@futurebird @Nazani @jmccyoung @jcrabapple @tayfonay I think you could list these 'trivial' facts for you, and it would be interesting for people. Just everything you said here in this single message is intriguing imo. Making facts like these would be interesting I'd think.
(DIR) Post #Aq00OEvpjJ3nJ0ixP6 by etnom@mastodon.world
2025-01-12T04:11:14Z
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@futurebird @tayfonay As others have said, this is a queen Hawaiian Carpenter Ant, currently listed as Camponotus variegatus but unpublished DNA work suggests it's actually C. zonatus.However this ant is not "Hawaiian". Hawaii has NO native ants. This ant arrived here in the early to mid-1800s.It most definitely does not sting. At most it might bite but is not at all aggressive. Every beach park in Hawaii is loaded with Tropical Fire Ants however, which DO sting quite aggressively.
(DIR) Post #Aq18I27zPneQeHvC4G by tayfonay@beige.party
2025-01-12T10:47:51Z
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@etnom @futurebird Thank you so much! Iām making an assumption that this is the same type of bug that āstungā my son a few years ago at the same beach. We thought it was a bee or wasp. There were several trapped in the surf / sand at this beach and he stepped on one, so itād have been self-defense. When we were there again last November we were aware of the risk so we looked for them and thatās when I took this photo. So she didnāt bite anyone š We also noticed some at Hanalei bay beach during a particularly rough surf day. Unless there are other insects that get stuck in the waves coming ashore? I appreciate the education!
(DIR) Post #Aq18I2t8aVMh0VyqYa by etnom@mastodon.world
2025-01-12T20:31:26Z
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@tayfonay @futurebird I'm a "first responder" for stinging ants in Hawaii as we work to eradicate a particular species: Wasmannia auropunctata, Little Fire Ant. I hear from people all the time with experiences like yours. The vast majority of reports I get refer to Tropical Fire Ant (if the person was stung) or Yellow Crazy Ant (if they just saw a "scary" ant). Occasionally Carpenter Ants are in the mix. YCA don't sting but they DO move fast, are quite common on beaches, and freak people out.
(DIR) Post #Aq1GchLMgWnXtzXgi8 by spz@mastodon.sdf.org
2025-01-12T22:12:49Z
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@futurebird @Nazani @jmccyoung @jcrabapple @tayfonay so if one has a termite infestation, getting carpenter ants would help?
(DIR) Post #Aq1Gv0NOezow8yDpxI by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-01-12T22:16:14Z
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@spz @Nazani @jmccyoung @jcrabapple @tayfonay Not much. It's a mixed bag. Getting rid of the termites ought to be the focus.They aren't one of the species of ants the hunts termites exclusively. Though almost all ants see termites as tempting food.