Formica
Guides
Cremastocheilus crinitus
anteater scarab beetle
Cremastocheilus crinitus is a myrmecophilous scarab beetle known for its specialized parasitic relationship with ants. Adults enter ant colonies by feigning death, allowing scavenging workers to carry them into nests. Once inside, they feed on ant larvae and pupae using modified piercing mouthparts. The species is part of a genus of approximately 35 North American species, commonly called "anteater scarabs" for their predatory behavior toward ant brood.
Formica biophilica
Wilson's Field Ant
Formica biophilica is a North American ant species in the genus Formica, described by James Trager in 2007. It belongs to the fusca group within Formica, a diverse assemblage of ants often characterized by their association with open habitats and varied ecological roles. The species epithet 'biophilica' reflects an affinity for living systems or biological environments. Like many Formica species, it participates in complex ecological interactions within its native range, though specific natural history details remain limited in published literature.
Formica comata
Formica comata is a species of ant in the genus Formica, family Formicidae. The species was described by Wheeler in 1909. Very little specific information about its biology, behavior, or ecology has been documented in the available literature.
Formica dolosa
Wily Field Ant
Formica dolosa is a species of field ant in the genus Formica, family Formicidae. Described by Buren in 1944, this species is part of a large and taxonomically complex genus containing numerous social parasites and free-living species. Like many Formica species, it is likely a generalist in its ecological habits, though specific details of its biology remain limited in the available literature. The species epithet "dolosa" (meaning "wily" or "deceitful") reflects its perceived behavioral characteristics.
Formica foreliana
Formica foreliana is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, first described by Wheeler in 1913. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Formica, which includes numerous species across the Northern Hemisphere. Many Formica species exhibit complex social behaviors, including facultative or obligate social parasitism. As a member of this genus, F. foreliana shares the characteristic eusocial colony structure with workers, queens, and males. The species is recognized as valid in major taxonomic databases including Catalogue of Life and GBIF.
Formica francoeuri
Francoeur's Field Ant
Formica francoeuri is a species of field ant in the genus Formica, family Formicidae. It was described by Bolton in 1995. The species is part of the diverse Formica genus, which includes many North American ant species with varied ecological strategies including social parasitism. As a member of the Formicinae subfamily, it lacks a stinger and instead uses formic acid for defense.
Formica integroides
Western Mound Ant, Vinegar Ant
Formica integroides, commonly known as the Western Mound Ant or Vinegar Ant, is a North American wood ant species in the family Formicidae. This species exhibits flexible, context-dependent foraging strategies at both colony and individual levels, adjusting its behavior based on resource characteristics and competitive pressure. It is known to utilize both terrestrial and arboreal resources, with foragers capable of defending entire trees as absolute territories. The species was first described by Wheeler in 1913.
Formica knighti
Formica knighti is a species of ant in the genus Formica, first described by Buren in 1944. The species belongs to the diverse and ecologically significant genus Formica, which includes many species with complex social behaviors including social parasitism. Like other members of Formica, F. knighti is a social insect living in colonies with a division of labor among workers, queens, and males. Specific natural history details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Formica manni
Mann's Field Ant
Formica manni is a species of field ant in the family Formicidae, described by Wheeler in 1913. It belongs to the diverse genus Formica, which includes many North American ant species. Very little specific information has been documented about this particular species beyond its taxonomic classification. The species name honors a person with the surname Mann, following the naming convention established by Wheeler.
Formica montana
prairie mound ant
Formica montana, commonly known as the prairie mound ant, is a North American ant species in the genus Formica. Colonies are frequently polygynous, with up to 20 queens documented in a single nest. The species constructs characteristic mound nests in prairie habitats.
Formica neogagates
Neogagates-group Field Ants
Formica neogagates is a species of field ant in the family Formicidae, described by Viereck in 1903. It is native to North America and Canada, with introduced populations reported in Europe, specifically France. The species exhibits spatially aggregated colony distribution patterns and shows negative spatial association with Formica subsericea, suggesting potential interspecific competition or habitat partitioning. It belongs to the neogagates species group within the genus Formica.
Formica obtusopilosa
Blunt-haired Mound Ant
Formica obtusopilosa is a species of mound-building ant in the family Formicidae, described by Carlo Emery in 1893. It belongs to the large genus Formica, which includes many species known for constructing prominent soil mounds. The species epithet 'obtusopilosa' refers to blunt or obtuse hairs, a morphological characteristic used in its identification. Like other Formica species, it is a social insect living in colonies with a division of labor among workers, queens, and males.
Formica oregonensis
Oregon Field Ant
Formica oregonensis is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, first described by Cole in 1938. It belongs to the genus Formica, a large and ecologically diverse group of ants found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. The species is known by the common name Oregon Field Ant. As a member of Formicinae, it lacks a stinger and instead uses formic acid for defense. Beyond basic taxonomic information, specific biological details about this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Formica pacifica
Pacific Field Ant
Formica pacifica is a medium-sized ant species native to the Pacific Coast of North America, ranging from British Columbia to the western United States. It belongs to the Formica fusca species group, a diverse assemblage of morphologically similar ants. Colonies can reach several thousand workers and are known for their fast, aggressive worker behavior and territorial conflicts with neighboring colonies. The species thrives in both forested habitats and human-altered environments.
Formica pallidefulva
field ant
Formica pallidefulva is a medium-sized field ant native to North America, ranging from reddish-gold in the southern United States to dark brown-black in Canada. Workers measure approximately 5–6 mm and are notably glossy compared to related species. The species excavates underground nests with horizontal and vertical galleries, typically without surface mounds. It serves as a primary host for multiple slave-making ants, including Polyergus lucidus and Formica pergandei, which raid its colonies for brood. Colonies are monogyne, diurnal, and forage solitarily while recruiting nestmates to larger food sources.
Formica pergandei
Pergande's Mound Ant
Formica pergandei is a slavemaking ant species that constructs stable earthen nest mounds. Colonies exhibit frequent nest relocations, typically occurring mid-raiding season, by invading existing host nests in areas of higher host density. This behavior reduces mean raiding distance and improves raiding success. The species was described by Emery in 1893 and is known from the northeastern United States.
Formica querquetulana
Formica querquetulana is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, described by Kennedy and Dennis in 1937. It belongs to the genus Formica, one of the largest and most widespread ant genera in the Northern Hemisphere. Very little specific information about this species' biology, ecology, or distribution has been documented in the available literature.
Formica xerophila
Formica xerophila is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, described by Smith in 1939. The species name 'xerophila' (Greek: xeros=dry, philia=loving) indicates adaptation to dry or drought-prone environments. Research has documented notable behavioral characteristics, including temperature-dependent aggression and coordinated group behavior mediated by direct physical contact between nestmates.
Haeterius blanchardi
clown beetle
Haeterius blanchardi is a myrmecophilous clown beetle (family Histeridae) native to the eastern United States. The species is known to inhabit colonies of the ant Formica pallidefulva, though its precise ecological relationship with the host remains incompletely documented. Adults have been recorded from Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The larvae have not been formally described.
Megastilicus
Megastilicus is a genus of myrmecophilous rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Paederinae) endemic to North America. The genus was long considered monotypic, containing only Megastilicus formicarius Casey, 1889, until the description of Megastilicus iowaensis in 2021. These beetles are specialized associates of ants, particularly Formica ulkei. The genus is classified in the subtribe Stilicina based on morphological characteristics.
Neoneurus
Neoneurus is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, tribe Neoneurini. These wasps are specialized ant parasitoids, with females attacking adult ant workers in flight to deposit their eggs. The genus includes species such as Neoneurus vesculus, which has been filmed ovipositing into Formica cunicularia workers. Neoneurus species are among the few parasitoids capable of overcoming ant defenses, representing a highly specialized ecological adaptation.
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breviceps
Broad-headed Amazon Ant
Polyergus breviceps is an obligate slave-making ant endemic to the United States. Workers are incapable of foraging, feeding brood, or performing nest maintenance, relying entirely on enslaved Formica workers for all colony tasks. The species conducts organized raids on Formica colonies to capture pupae, which mature into workers in the mixed nest. Newly mated queens can independently usurp Formica colonies through a combination of physical combat and chemical deception.
Sphenometopa tergata
satellite fly
Sphenometopa tergata is a satellite fly in the family Sarcophagidae, subfamily Miltogramminae. It is known to parasitize the nests of ant-queen kidnapping wasps in the genus Aphilanthops, particularly A. frigidus. The species has been observed loitering near nest aggregations of these solitary wasps, suggesting kleptoparasitic or parasitoid behavior. Its taxonomic history includes transfer from the genus Araba to Sphenometopa.