Forest-ant
Guides
Aphaenogaster fulva
Tawny Collared Ant
Aphaenogaster fulva is a species of myrmicine ant in the genus Aphaenogaster, first described by Roger in 1863. It is part of a species complex that has undergone taxonomic revision, with some authorities treating related forms as separate species or subspecies. The species has been studied for its spatial distribution patterns in temperate forests, particularly in relation to environmental gradients such as soil moisture and vegetation cover. Like other Aphaenogaster species, it is a ground-nesting ant with generalist foraging habits.
Camponotus novaeboracensis
New York carpenter ant
Camponotus novaeboracensis, commonly known as the New York carpenter ant, is a species of large carpenter ant native to North America. It excavates galleries in dead or decaying wood to house colonies, but does not consume wood as a food source. The species is primarily nocturnal and plays a significant role in forest decomposition. Workers vary in size, with major workers reaching approximately 13–17 mm in length. The species is sometimes confused with other large black ants but can be distinguished by morphological features of the thorax and petiole.
Dolichoderus taschenbergi
Taschenberg's Odorous Ant
Dolichoderus taschenbergi is a North American ant species in the odorous ant subfamily Dolichoderinae. Described by Mayr in 1866, it is endemic to Canada and the United States. The species exhibits sporadic dispersion patterns and has been studied for its mutualistic relationships with honeydew-producing hemipterans. Colony structure may include polygynous nesting patterns, though this requires further research.
Temnothorax longispinosus
Long-spined Acorn Ant
Temnothorax longispinosus is a small North American ant species, measuring 2–2.5 mm in length, commonly known as the Long-spined Acorn Ant. It inhabits forest environments and nests primarily in preformed cavities within leaf litter, including hollow nuts and acorns. The species exhibits remarkable queen polymorphism with three distinct morphs associated with alternative nest-founding strategies: small queens with reduced flight capacity that practice dependent colony founding by returning to natal nests; large queens with low fat reserves that found colonies via pleometrosis (cooperative founding with multiple queens); and large queens with high fat reserves that practice haplometrosis (solitary founding). This species serves as a host for the slave-making ant Protomognathus americanus and has been extensively studied for its genomic adaptations to climate variation and parasite pressure.
Temnothorax schaumii
Schaumii-group Acorn Ants
Temnothorax schaumii is a small ant species in the genus Temnothorax, commonly known as the Schaumii-group Acorn Ants. First described by Roger in 1863, it was historically classified under the genus Leptothorax before taxonomic revision placed it in Temnothorax. The species belongs to a genus of cavity-nesting ants that frequently inhabit acorns, twigs, and other small preformed cavities. Like other Temnothorax species, it exhibits small colony sizes and specialized nesting habits.
Temnothorax tricarinatus
Tricarinatus-group Acorn Ant
Temnothorax tricarinatus is a species of acorn ant in the family Formicidae, first described by Emery in 1895. The species belongs to a complex of morphologically similar species within the genus Temnothorax, commonly referred to as the 'Tricarinatus-group Acorn Ants' on iNaturalist. As with other members of this genus, T. tricarinatus is likely a cavity-nesting species that utilizes small pre-existing spaces such as hollow acorns, twigs, or other plant cavities for colony establishment. The genus Temnothorax comprises over 350 species worldwide, with approximately 60 species known from North America.