Formicidae
Guides
Lasius speculiventris
Shiny-bellied Fuzzy Ant
Lasius speculiventris is a species of ant in the genus Lasius, commonly known as the Shiny-bellied Fuzzy Ant. It is found in the northern United States, where it inhabits forests, woodlands, and meadows. As a member of the subfamily Formicinae, it belongs to a diverse group of ants that includes many ecologically important species.
Lasius subumbratus
Less Shady Fuzzy Ant
Lasius subumbratus is a species of ant in the genus Lasius, family Formicidae, described by Viereck in 1903. It belongs to the subfamily Formicinae and tribe Lasiini. The species is known by the common name "Less Shady Fuzzy Ant" and has been documented in citizen science observations.
Leptothorax canadensis
Northern Thin Ant
Leptothorax canadensis is a small myrmicine ant native to eastern North America, where it is one of the most common ants in boreal coniferous forests. The species exhibits facultative polygyny, with colonies containing multiple fertile queens. It is also known as a slave-making ant, conducting organized raids on host colonies—particularly Leptothorax muscorum—to capture pupae that emerge as workers serving the slave-making colony. Genetic studies indicate a multicolonial population structure with moderate gene flow and no evidence of inbreeding.
Manica hunteri
Manica hunteri is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, first described by Wheeler in 1914. It belongs to the genus Manica, a group of ants within the subfamily Myrmicinae. The species is recognized in major taxonomic databases including Catalogue of Life, GBIF, and NCBI Taxonomy. Beyond basic taxonomic classification, detailed biological information about this species remains limited in available sources.
Manica invidia
Manica invidia is a species of ant in the genus Manica, family Formicidae. The species was described by Bolton in 1995. It belongs to the subfamily Myrmicinae, a diverse group of ants that includes many seed-harvesting and fungus-growing species. Manica ants are found in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Monomorium trageri
Monomorium trageri is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, described by DuBois in 1986. It is classified within the genus Monomorium, a diverse group of small ants commonly known as thief ants. The specific epithet honors James C. Trager, an American myrmecologist.
Mycetomoellerius jamaicensis
Jamaican Fungus-farming Ant
Mycetomoellerius jamaicensis is a fungus-farming ant in the tribe Attini, known for cultivating symbiotic fungi as a food source. The species belongs to a genus historically classified under Trachymyrmex but recently recognized as distinct based on molecular and morphological evidence. As with other attine ants, colonies maintain fungal gardens within nests. The species has been documented in the conterminous United States with observations concentrated in the southeastern region.
Myrmecocystus mendax
honey ant, honeypot ant
Myrmecocystus mendax is a species of honeypot ant native to Mexico and the Southwestern United States. The species exhibits notable intraspecific variation in social organization: populations in the Sierra Ancha Mountains of central Arizona display primary polygyny with cooperative colony founding by multiple unrelated queens, while Chiricahua Mountains populations are predominantly monogynous with single-queen founding. Mature colonies in polygynous populations contain an average of 6.27 queens. The species produces specialized replete workers that serve as living food storage vessels.
Myrmecocystus mimicus
Mimicus Honeypot Ant
Myrmecocystus mimicus is a North American species of honeypot ant in the genus Myrmecocystus, described by Wheeler in 1908. The species is widely distributed across the southwestern and central United States and into Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits the specialized honeypot behavior where certain workers serve as living food storage vessels. The species is part of the Mimicus-flaviceps group of honeypot ants.
Myrmecocystus placodops
Myrmecocystus placodops is a species of honeypot ant native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. As a member of the genus Myrmecocystus, it likely exhibits the characteristic replete caste—specialized workers that store liquid food in their distended abdomens. The species was described by Auguste Forel in 1908. Like other honeypot ants, colonies are subterranean and may be targeted by specialized myrmecophilous beetles such as Cremastocheilus scarabs.
Myrmecocystus testaceus
Brick Honeypot Ant
Myrmecocystus testaceus is a nocturnal ant species native to the southern United States, commonly known as the Brick Honeypot Ant. As a member of the genus Myrmecocystus, it possesses the distinctive replete caste—specialized workers that store liquid food in their greatly distended abdomens, serving as living food reserves for the colony. The species nests in sandy soils and has been documented as a host for the myrmecophilous beetle Cremastocheilus.
Myrmecocystus wheeleri
Wheeler's Honeypot Ant
Myrmecocystus wheeleri is a species of honeypot ant native to arid regions of California, Baja California, and Coahuila. Like other members of the genus, it possesses specialized workers called repletes that store liquid carbohydrates in their distended crops for long-term colony sustenance. The species has been documented to host a gut microbiome dominated by halophiles, distinguishing it from congeners that harbor lactic acid and acetic acid bacteria in their replete crops.
Myrmica
Furrowed Ants
Myrmica is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae containing approximately 200 described species. The genus is widespread across temperate regions of the Holarctic and occurs in high mountain habitats of Southeast Asia. Myrmica species exhibit diverse colony structures, including both monogynous and polygynous forms. The genus is notable for its complex ecological relationships, including associations with parasitic butterflies, inquiline ant species, and various other organisms.
Myrmica detritinodis
Eroded Ant
Myrmica detritinodis is a species of ant in the genus Myrmica, described by Emery in 1921. It belongs to the diverse and ecologically significant genus Myrmica, which includes numerous species known for their associations with various insects, including lycaenid butterflies and sawflies. The species is recognized under the common name "Eroded Ant." As with many Myrmica species, it likely participates in trophobiotic relationships, though specific ecological details for this particular species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Myrmica fracticornis
Broken-horned Ant
Myrmica fracticornis is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, first described by Auguste Forel in 1901. It belongs to the genus Myrmica, a diverse group of ants commonly known as 'stinging ants' or 'red ants.' The species is distinguished by its 'broken-horned' antennae, a trait reflected in its specific epithet. Like other Myrmica species, it is a small to medium-sized ant with a two-segmented petiole. The species has been documented through limited observations, with 14 records on iNaturalist as of the available data.
Myrmica incompleta
Incomplete Furrowed Ant
Myrmica incompleta is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, described by Provancher in 1881. It serves as a known host for the parasitic ant Formicoxenus provancheri, representing a documented host-parasite relationship within ant communities. The species belongs to the diverse genus Myrmica, which includes ants known for associations with various myrmecophilous organisms.
Myrmica latifrons
Wide-faced Ant
Myrmica latifrons is a species of ant in the genus Myrmica, first described by Stärcke in 1927. The species is known by the common name "Wide-faced Ant," reflecting a distinguishing morphological feature. As a member of the Myrmicinae subfamily, it belongs to a diverse group of ants that includes many species with specialized ecological relationships. The genus Myrmica is well-known for its associations with various myrmecophilous organisms, including butterflies in the genus Maculinea.
Myrmica lobifrons
Lobe-fronted Ant
Myrmica lobifrons is a species of ant in the genus Myrmica, first described by Pergande in 1900. It is commonly known as the lobe-fronted ant. The species belongs to the subfamily Myrmicinae, a diverse group of ants that includes many species with specialized ecological relationships. Like other Myrmica species, M. lobifrons may participate in mutualistic or parasitic associations with other organisms, though specific documented interactions for this species are limited in the provided sources.
Myrmica rugiventris
Myrmica rugiventris is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, first described by Smith in 1943. It belongs to the genus Myrmica, a widespread and ecologically significant group of ants known for their associations with various myrmecophilous organisms. The species is documented in taxonomic databases but appears to have limited published biological data available.
Neivamyrmex melshaemeri
Legionary ant
Neivamyrmex melshaemeri is a species of legionary ant in the genus Neivamyrmex, which comprises nomadic army ants found primarily in North America. Like other members of this genus, it exhibits specialized predatory behavior and social parasitism of other ant colonies. The species was described by Haldeman in 1852 and represents part of a distinctive radiation of New World army ants.
Nesomyrmex wilda
Nesomyrmex wilda is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, originally described by Smith in 1943. The species belongs to the genus Nesomyrmex, a group of myrmicine ants distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. The specific epithet 'wilda' honors Alex Wild, a noted insect photographer and entomologist. The species has been documented through limited observations, with 19 records on iNaturalist as of the available data.
Novomessor albisetosus
desert harvester ant
Novomessor albisetosus, commonly known as the desert harvester ant, is a medium-sized ant species native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. First described by Gustav Mayr in 1886 as Aphaenogaster albisetosa, it was transferred to the revived genus Novomessor in 2015 following phylogenetic evidence of its distinctness from Aphaenogaster. Workers measure 6–8.5 mm and display ferruginous body coloration with distinctive morphological features including a shorter head and subparallel eyes compared to congeners. The species exhibits age-related task allocation among workers and cooperative foraging behavior, with colonies nesting underground or beneath stones in arid and semi-arid habitats.
Nylanderia
Crazy ants
Nylanderia is a large genus of formicine ants with over 130 described species and a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, notably absent from Europe. The genus was resurrected from synonymy with Paratrechina in 2010 based on molecular phylogenetics and morphological reassessment. Species range from small to medium in size (1–4 mm) and exhibit coloration from pale yellow to black. Several species are significant invasive pests, including N. fulva (tawny crazy ant) and N. bourbonica, which form massive supercolonies and cause ecological and economic damage.
Nylanderia faisonensis
Woodland Crazy Ant
Nylanderia faisonensis is a species of ant in the subfamily Formicinae, commonly known as the Woodland Crazy Ant. It is a member of the genus Nylanderia, which includes several species known for erratic, rapid movement patterns. The species was described by Auguste Forel in 1922. While less studied than its congener the tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva), it shares the characteristic rapid, unpredictable foraging behavior that gives these ants their common name.
Nylanderia phantasma
Ghostly Crazy Ant
Nylanderia phantasma is a species of ant in the family Formicidae, commonly known as the Ghostly Crazy Ant. It belongs to the genus Nylanderia, a group often referred to as crazy ants due to their erratic, rapid movement patterns. The species was described by Trager in 1984. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a generalist forager, though specific ecological details remain limited in published literature.
Nylanderia terricola
Nylanderia terricola is a Nearctic ant species in the subfamily Formicinae, originally described by Buckley in 1866. Workers of this species are morphologically difficult to distinguish from N. vividula, and accurate identification typically requires examination of male specimens. The species belongs to a genus that includes both native and introduced species in the Nearctic region.
Paratrechina longicornis
Longhorn Crazy Ant, Black Crazy Ant
Paratrechina longicornis, commonly known as the longhorn crazy ant or black crazy ant, is a small dark-colored ant species in the family Formicidae. It is one of the most widely distributed ant species globally, found in nearly every tropical and subtropical location through human-mediated transport. The species exhibits remarkable adaptability to human-modified environments, thriving in urban centers, greenhouses, and buildings even in temperate climates. Its erratic, non-linear movement patterns earned it the common name 'crazy ant'. The species is considered one of the world's worst invasive ant species due to its ecological and economic impacts.
Pheidole adrianoi
Florida Rosemary Big-headed Ant
Pheidole adrianoi is a species of big-headed ant in the genus Pheidole, described by Naves in 1985. The species is known from Florida, where it has been recorded in association with Florida rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides) habitats. As with other members of the hyperdiverse genus Pheidole, this species exhibits worker polymorphism with distinct major and minor worker castes. The species has been documented through iNaturalist observations, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Pheidole barbata
Bearded Big-headed Ant
Pheidole barbata is a species of big-headed ant in the genus Pheidole, first described by Wheeler in 1908. The common name "Bearded Big-headed Ant" refers to distinctive pilosity characteristic of this species. As with other members of its hyperdiverse genus, it exhibits the characteristic dimorphic worker caste system with minor workers and major soldiers bearing disproportionately enlarged heads. The species belongs to the Myrmicinae subfamily and is part of the Attini tribe, though it is not a fungus-growing ant like the true attines.
Pheidole bicarinata
Variable Big-headed Ant, Common Big-headed Ant
Pheidole bicarinata, commonly known as the Variable Big-headed Ant, is a North American ant species characterized by its polymorphic worker caste system with distinct minor and major workers. The species exhibits a broad distribution across the central and eastern United States, ranging from Nebraska and Colorado eastward to New Jersey and Florida. Colonies are moderately sized, typically reaching up to approximately 4,000 workers. The species is notable for its dietary flexibility, incorporating insects, seeds, and nectar into its foraging repertoire.
Pheidole clementensis
San Clemente Island Big-headed Ant
Pheidole clementensis is a species of big-headed ant in the genus Pheidole, described by Gregg in 1969. It is endemic to San Clemente Island, California, and is recognized as a distinct species within the highly diverse genus Pheidole, which contains over 1,000 species globally. Like other Pheidole species, it exhibits worker polymorphism with distinct soldier and minor worker castes.
Pheidole constipata
Pheidole constipata is a species of big-headed ant in the genus Pheidole, described by Wheeler in 1908. The genus Pheidole is hyperdiverse, containing at least 1,000 species in the New World alone, and is characterized by a worker caste polymorphism that includes minor workers and soldier ants with disproportionately large heads. As with other members of this genus, P. constipata exhibits this distinctive soldier caste, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Pheidole crassicornis
crassicornis-group Big-headed Ants
Pheidole crassicornis is a species of big-headed ant in the genus Pheidole, family Formicidae, first described by Emery in 1895. The species belongs to the crassicornis complex within this diverse ant genus. Two subspecies are recognized: P. c. crassicornis (the nominate form) and P. c. tetra (described by Creighton in 1950). Like other Pheidole species, it exhibits the characteristic worker polymorphism with distinct major and minor worker castes.
Pheidole desertorum
Desert Big-headed Ant
Pheidole desertorum is a desert-dwelling ant in the hyperdiverse genus Pheidole, characterized by large colony sizes and pronounced worker polymorphism. Colonies contain 2,460–24,814 adult workers, making them exceptionally large for the genus. The species exhibits nocturnal foraging during summer months and employs multiple nests as an anti-predator defense strategy. Mating occurs following summer rainfall, with males forming aerial swarms prior to sunrise. Colony foundation is typically haplometrotic, though pleometrotic associations with workers occur.
Pheidole elecebra
Pheidole elecebra is an ant species endemic to the United States. It is a workerless inquiline, meaning it lives within the nests of another ant species without producing a worker caste of its own. The species is entirely dependent on its host, Pheidole ceres, for colony maintenance and survival.
Pheidole floridana
Pheidole floridana is a species of ant in the genus Pheidole, first described by Carlo Emery in 1895. The species is part of the highly diverse and ecologically significant genus Pheidole, which is characterized by its distinctive worker caste polymorphism featuring minor workers and major workers (soldiers) with enlarged heads. Specific biological details for P. floridana are limited in available sources.
Pheidole pelor
Pheidole pelor is a species of big-headed ant in the genus Pheidole, described by E.O. Wilson in 2003. It belongs to one of the most diverse ant genera, with over 1,000 species in the New World alone. The species exhibits the characteristic worker polymorphism of the genus, with distinct major and minor worker castes. Information regarding its specific biology, distribution, and ecology remains limited in published literature.
Pheidole porcula
Pheidole porcula is a species of big-headed ant in the genus Pheidole, described by Wheeler in 1908. As a member of this hyperdiverse ant genus, it exhibits the characteristic worker polymorphism with distinct major and minor worker castes. The species is placed within the tribe Attini, though unlike the well-known fungus-growing ants in this tribe, most Pheidole species are generalist foragers. Specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in available literature.
Pheidole tepicana
Tepic Big-headed Ant
Pheidole tepicana is a species of big-headed ant in the genus Pheidole, first described by Pergande in 1896. It belongs to the hyperdiverse ant genus Pheidole, which contains over 1,000 species and is characterized by its dimorphic worker castes. The species is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico, placing it within a region of high native ant diversity.
Pheidole virago
helmet beetle
Pheidole virago is a species of big-headed ant in the family Formicidae, described by Wheeler in 1915. The species is part of the hyperdiverse genus Pheidole, which is characterized by pronounced worker polymorphism with distinct soldier and minor worker castes. Information about this specific species is extremely limited in scientific literature.
Pheidole xerophila
Pheidole xerophila is a species of ant in the genus Pheidole, first described by Wheeler in 1908. As a member of this hyperdiverse genus, it exhibits worker caste dimorphism with distinct minor and major worker morphs. The specific epithet 'xerophila' suggests an association with dry or arid environments. The species is documented in the Catalogue of Life and GBIF as accepted, with observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Pogonomyrmex bicolor
bicolored harvester ant
Pogonomyrmex bicolor, the bicolored harvester ant, is a species of harvester ant native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Like other members of the genus Pogonomyrmex, this species is characterized by its seed-collecting behavior and potent defensive sting. The species was described by Cole in 1968.
Pogonomyrmex comanche
Comanche harvester ant
Pogonomyrmex comanche, the Comanche harvester ant, is an endangered harvester ant species endemic to the western Gulf Coastal Plain of North America. Genetic studies indicate central Texas serves as the center of genetic diversity, consistent with Pleistocene refugia patterns observed in many regional species. Northern populations in Arkansas and Oklahoma exhibit lower genetic diversity and evidence of population contraction rather than recent range expansion. The species shows signs of dispersal limitation, with high genetic diversity and few identical sequences among sampled individuals. Its decline appears driven by a combination of habitat loss and limited dispersal capacity, though exact mechanisms remain under investigation.
Pogonomyrmex imberbiculus
Pogonomyrmex imberbiculus is a species of harvester ant described by Wheeler in 1902. As a member of the genus Pogonomyrmex, it is part of a group of ants known for seed harvesting behavior, though specific details about this particular species remain limited in the available literature. The species has been documented through iNaturalist observations, indicating it is recognized in field settings.
Pogonomyrmex pima
Pima-group Harvester Ants
Pogonomyrmex pima is a seed-harvesting ant in the genus Pogonomyrmex, described by Wheeler in 1909. As a member of the harvester ant group, it belongs to a lineage known for constructing large nest clearings, collecting and storing seeds, and possessing potent defensive stings. The species is part of the Pima species group within the genus, which is distributed across arid regions of North America. Like other Pogonomyrmex species, P. pima likely plays significant ecological roles in seed dispersal, soil nutrient cycling, and as a food source for specialized predators.
Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus
Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus is a species of harvester ant in the genus Pogonomyrmex. Like other members of this genus, it is a seed-collecting ant native to arid regions. The species was described by Auguste Forel in 1914. As a harvester ant, it likely participates in seed dispersal and ecosystem engineering through nest construction, though specific ecological studies for this species are limited.
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Amazon ants, slave-raiding ants, slave-making ants
Polyergus is a genus of 14 described species of obligate slave-making ants found throughout the northern hemisphere. Workers possess highly specialized dagger-like mandibles adapted for piercing the heads of host ants during raids, but have lost the ability to perform brood care or feed themselves. All colonies depend entirely on captured workers from the genus Formica to perform nest maintenance, foraging, and brood rearing. New colonies are founded when a single queen invades an existing Formica nest, eventually killing the host queen and assuming control of the worker force.
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.
Polyergus longicornis
Long-horned Amazon Ant
Polyergus longicornis is a dulotic (slave-making) ant species in the genus Polyergus, commonly known as Amazon ants. Elevated to full species status by Trager (2013), it was originally described by M. R. Smith in 1947. The species belongs to the Nearctic lucidus group, which includes P. lucidus, P. montivagus, P. oligergus, P. ruber, and P. sanwaldi. Like all Polyergus species, it is an obligate social parasite dependent on host colonies of Formica ants for survival and reproduction.
Polyergus mexicanus
Western Amazon Ant
Polyergus mexicanus is an obligate social parasite known as the Western Amazon Ant, widely distributed across western North America. This species is incapable of performing basic colony tasks including foraging, nest excavation, and brood care, and depends entirely on enslaved workers of Formica host species. The species performs dramatic, coordinated raids on Formica colonies to capture larvae and pupae, which are then integrated into the parasite colony. Recent genetic studies have revealed substantial population structure associated with different host species, suggesting incipient speciation into host-specific lineages.