Ants and Myrmecophila christinae

[smweaver]

I have a question for any amateur or professional entomologist--especially in you live in South Florida.

I just received a good-size piece (previously bloomed, based on the remnants of what appeared to have been two thick spikes) of Myrmecophila christinae a couple of weeks ago. I didn't realize it until yesterday, but there's a thriving colony of ants that (I think) must be living inside one or more of the pseudobulbs (there is only the small piece of wood that the plant is attached to, so I'm not sure where else the ants could be living). At first, due to their diminutive size (approximately 2 mm in length), I didn't think they were ants. But a jewelers loupe helped to confirm that they are. They are a bright red-amber color and very fast.

Does anyone know what genus or species this could be? The guy in South Florida who sent me the piece of plant profusely apologized for shipping ants to me. But I actually told him I was contacting him not to complain, but to tell him how excited I was when I found them and to ask if he knew what they were. He didn't have any idea (and then suggested various ways for me to get rid of them, which isn't what I'm interested in doing).

I did experiment and allow several of them to crawl on my hand. I didn't feel any stings or bites, so I think I can (hopefully) rule out fire ants. But if anyone might have an idea of what they could be, please let me know.

Thank you.

Steve