Dulotic-parasitism
Guides
Polyergus bicolor
Bicolored Amazon Ant
Polyergus bicolor is an obligate slave-making ant species in the genus Polyergus, commonly known as Amazon ants. The species was first described by Wasmann in 1901 and was historically known primarily from eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. A 2019 discovery in Alberta, Canada marked a significant range expansion westward and represented a new host association with Formica podzolica. Like other Polyergus species, P. bicolor is a dulotic parasite entirely dependent on host colonies of Formica ants for survival, as its workers cannot forage, feed themselves, or excavate nests.