Nest-relocation
Guides
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 subintegra
Formica subintegra is an obligate slave-making ant that practices dulosis, a form of social parasitism where the species depends entirely on captured workers of closely related host species for domestic tasks. Colonies consist of 70-90% enslaved workers, primarily from the Formica fusca group. The species exhibits relatively frequent nest relocations, moving toward areas of higher host density to improve raiding success. Unlike more specialized obligate parasites, F. subintegra retains the ability to recover degenerated behaviors when isolated from hosts, including foraging, nest excavation, and trophallaxis.
Pogonomyrmex badius
Florida Harvester Ant
Pogonomyrmex badius, the Florida harvester ant, is the only Pogonomyrmex species found on the east coast of the United States and the only North American member of the genus known to exhibit worker polymorphism. This species inhabits sandy, well-drained soils in Florida scrub and similar Atlantic coastal plain habitats. Colonies construct deep nests reaching 2.5–3.0 meters, with underground seed granaries and distinctive surface middens of charcoal and detritus. Workers display pronounced size variation (6.35–9.52 mm), with task allocation based on worker size and age-based vertical stratification within the nest. The species is notable for seasonal nest relocation, tool use for liquid food transport, and highly toxic venom delivered through a barbed stinger capable of autotomy.