Post AxVy70n6PgK2BiC2AC by twizzt@sauropods.win
(DIR) More posts by twizzt@sauropods.win
(DIR) Post #AxVy70n6PgK2BiC2AC by twizzt@sauropods.win
2025-08-25T02:45:27Z
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Here is another ant. I still haven't gotten clarification on how the common names are applied to this group. I learned them as valentine ants, but it seems like most call them acrobat ants and yet others call them cocktail ants. If you know something about how or when to apply these common names, please let me know.#Formicidae #Crematogaster #Ants #Insects #Nature #Photography #Oklahoma
(DIR) Post #AxVy93LVsuiMgvGIIC by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-08-25T02:46:40Z
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@twizzt "Crematogaster" literally means "heart tush"
(DIR) Post #AxVyQVMIzGFmUhxCkK by dlakelan@mastodon.sdf.org
2025-08-25T02:49:28Z
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@futurebirdShouldn't it be "burned" not heart. Like "cremated"?@twizzt
(DIR) Post #AxVyaSbu3oLCrkzsDg by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-08-25T02:51:36Z
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@dlakelan @twizzt I guess "cardiogaster" would make more sense... hmmm
(DIR) Post #AxVyhIDn5IzEfkybVA by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-08-25T02:52:48Z
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@dlakelan @twizzt I think I just assumed it had to be "heart" but thinking on it more you are correct. Time to change the name!
(DIR) Post #AxVyhxwXxo9I4REQSG by twizzt@sauropods.win
2025-08-25T02:52:57Z
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@futurebird And visually, that makes sense. So I stick with valentine... These particular ants didn't walk around with their tushies in the air business that many of them do. They were more arboreal than the groups I usually photograph too. So then I was thinking, since they are often running on railing or on thin twigs, are these the acrobat ants? Stupid common names....
(DIR) Post #AxVylbF6J3gIp8dv72 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-08-25T02:53:37Z
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@twizzt They put them in the air when they are MAD.
(DIR) Post #AxVzL3Xt4IiojuKxYO by twizzt@sauropods.win
2025-08-25T03:00:01Z
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@futurebird Interesting. Some crematogaster groups must just be mad all the time then. Like weaver ants... they are never happy to see me... time to go poke at some valentine ants I guess. They aren't super common here in Sri Lanka though.
(DIR) Post #AxW1MRiesOVpuXAKe0 by kcivey@mastodon.social
2025-08-25T03:22:37Z
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@futurebird @dlakelan @twizzt "From Ancient Greek κρεμᾶτ- (kremât-), root of κρεμᾶται (kremâtai, 'hanging'), a middle-voice form of κρεμάω (kremáō, 'to hang'), + -ο- + γαστήρ (gastḗr, 'belly'). As in the case of the common name 'acrobat ant', this name refers to the ant’s defense mechanism of hanging its abdomen above its head and thorax in order to expel venom from its tip."https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/Crematogaster