Diurnal-forager
Guides
Formica incerta
Uncertain Field Ant
Formica incerta is a common ant species of eastern North America, often the most abundant Formica in its range. It constructs underground nests with inconspicuous entrance holes and no surface mound. Workers forage diurnally for nectar and honeydew, and the species serves as the primary host for the slave-making ant Polyergus lucidus. First described by Carlo Emery in 1893, its specific epithet reflects historical taxonomic uncertainty and identification challenges.