Formica

Formica Temporal range: 48.6–0 Ma K Pa Eo Ol Mi Pl Eocene – Recent
Formica rufa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Formicini
Genus:	Formica Linnaeus, 1758
Type species
Formica rufa
Diversity
280 species 68 fossil species (Species Checklist, Species by Country) Formica rufa Specimen Label
Synonyms
Adformica Lomnicki, 1925 Coptoformica Müller, 1923 Formicina Shuckard, in Swainson & Shuckard, 1840 Neoformica Wheeler, W.M., 1913 Raptiformica Forel, 1913 Serviformica Forel, 1913

Evolutionary Relationships

Formicinae Myrmelachistini   (2 genera) Lasiini   (10 genera) Melophorini   (9 genera) Formicini Polyergus   (15 species) Formica   (280 species) Iberoformica   (1 species) Bajcaridris   (3 species) Proformica   (29 species) Cataglyphis   (112 species) Rossomyrmex   (4 species) Gesomyrmex, Oecophylla Plagiolepidini   (9 genera) Gigantiops, Myrmoteras, Santschiella Camponotini   (8 genera)

Based on Ward et al. 2016.

A large holarctic genus that are common in many northern temperate areas. For many reasons this genus as a whole has many well studied species. The taxonomy is fractured into many smaller subdivisions (both subgenera and species groups; see Formica species groups), many of which have no official taxonomic designation and are poorly delineated. In some cases older group names have been replaced by newer names, and new arrangements of species, but the older groups remain in use by some myrmecologists and not others.

Photo Gallery

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  Formica sanguinea group workers tending aphids at Grafton, Massachusetts. Photo by Tom Murray.
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Identification

Formica species groups

See images of species within this genus

Keys including this Genus

• Key to Ant Genera of the Navajo Reservation
• Key to North American Genera of Formicinae
• Key to the Ant Genera of New Mexico

 

Keys to Species in this Genus

• Key to US Formica pallidefulva group species
• Key to Nearctic species in the Formica rufa group
• Key to Formica subgenus Coptoformica workers of Europe
• Key to Formica subgenus Coptoformica queens of Europe
• Key to Formica rufibarbis group
• Key to Formica cinerea group
• Key to Nearctic Formica fusca group males
• Key to Nearctic Formica fusca group queens
• Key to Nearctic Formica fusca group workers
• Key to New England Formica
• Key to Palaearctic Formica rufa group species

Distribution

Fossils

Fossils are known from: Aix-en-Provence, France (Late Oligocene), Auxillac, Auvergne, France (Early Oligocene), Baltic amber (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene), Bitterfeld amber (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene), Bol’shaya Svetlovodnaya, Sikhote-Alin, Russia (Priabonian, Late Eocene), Bournemouth, Dorset, U.K. (Bartonian, Middle Eocene), Danish-Scandinavian amber (Bartonian, Middle to Late Eocene), Florissant, Colorado, United States (Late Eocene), Joursac, Auvergne, France (Late Miocene), Kishenehn Formation shale, Montana, United States (Lutetian, Middle Eocene), Kleinkems, Germany (Early Oligocene), Lac Chambon, Auvergne, France (Pliocene), Mokrina (Krottensee), Czech Republic (Late Burdigalian, Early Miocene), Oeningen, Switzerland (Messinian, Late Miocene), Ormety, Georgia (Serravallian, Miocene), Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada (Early Miocene?), Radoboj, Croatia (Burdigalian, Early Miocene), Rovno amber (Priabonian, Late Eocene), Rott, Westphalia, Germany (Late Oligocene), Shanwang, China (Early Miocene), Mossy Creek, near Wellborn, Texas, United States (Late Eocene).

Biology

Subgeneric Phylogentics Romiguier et al. (2018) "resolved the phylogenetic relationships among palearctic Formica subgenera (Formica str. s., Coptoformica, Raptiformica and Serviformica). Interestingly, our phylogenetic tree reveals that the free-living Serviformica species do not form a monophyletic clade, and that parasitic colony founding in wood ants and Raptiformica slave-makers is likely to have a single origin. Our results suggest that parasitic colony founding is likely to be an intermediary step between free-living hosts and slave-maker parasites in the Formica genus. Similar studies in other genera containing slave-making species (e.g. Temnothorax, Harpagoxenus, Myrmoxenus, Protomognathus…) will be necessary to get a better global picture of the evolution of slave-making in ants."

Association with Other Organisms

Species Uncertain

Unknown species of Formica are hosts for the nematode Diploscapter lycostoma (Wahab, 1962), the eucharitid wasps Eucharis adscendens and Eucharis esakii (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) and the fungi Ophiocordyceps subunilateralis.

Unknown species of Formica are prey for the tiger beetles Cicindela tranquebarica and Cicindelidia marginipennis (predators) in the United States (Valenti & Gaimari, 2000; Polidori et al., 2020).

All Associate Records for Genus

Explore Associate Data: All, Drilldown

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Taxon	Relationship	Associate Type	Associate Taxon	Associate Relationship	Locality	Source	Notes
Formica	host	eucharitid wasp	Eucharis adscendens	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Formica	host	eucharitid wasp	Eucharis esakii	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Formica	host	fungus	Ophiocordyceps subunilateralis	pathogen		Shrestha et al. 2017
Formica	host	nematode	Diploscapter lycostoma	parasite		Wahab, 1962
Formica	prey	tiger beetle	Cicindela tranquebarica	predator	United States	Valenti & Gaimari, 2000; Polidori et al., 2020
Formica	prey	tiger beetle	Cicindelidia marginipennis	predator	United States	Valenti & Gaimari, 2000; Polidori et al., 2020
Formica accreta	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica adamsi	temporary parasite	ant	Formica neorufibarbis	host
Formica adamsi alpina	slave maker	ant	Formica neorufibarbis	host		Mackay and Mackay 2002
Formica aerata	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica aerata	host	aphelinid wasp	Aphytis melinus	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica altipetens	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica altipetens	host	ant	Formica wheeleri	slave maker
Formica altipetens	host	ant	Polyergus breviceps	slave maker
Formica aquilonia	host	ant	Formicoxenus nitidulus	xenobiont		Holldobler & Wilson 1990; Busch 2001; Martin et al. 2007
Formica aquilonia	host	beetle	Monotoma angusticollis (Coleopotera: Monotomidae)	myrmecophile	Europe	Wagner et al., 2020
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Achrysocharoides niveipes	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Chrysocharis assis	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Chrysocharis collaris	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Chrysocharis nephereus	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Chrysocharis orbicularis	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Chrysocharis pilicoxa	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Cirrospilus curvineurus	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Cirrospilus vittatus	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Derostenus gemmeus	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Dicladocerus westwoodii	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Elachertus artaeus	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Pediobius metallicus	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Pnigalio longulus	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Pnigalio pectinicornis	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Sympiesis gordius	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Sympiesis sericeicornis	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica aquilonia	host	eulophid wasp	Sympiesis xanthostoma	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica archboldi	host	ant	Polyergus oligergus	slave maker
Formica archboldi	host	cricket	Myrmecophila pergandei	myrmecophile
Formica argentea	host	ant	Formica densiventris	slave maker
Formica argentea	host	ant	Formica microgyna	temporary parasite		Gregg, 1963; Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Formica argentea	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica argentea	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica argentea	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica aserva	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica aserva	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica aserva	slave maker	ant	Formica neorufibarbis	host		Wheeler and Wheeler, 1986
Formica aserva	slave maker	ant	Formica podzolica	host		Savolainen & Deslippe, 2001
Formica biophilica	host	ant	Formica densiventris	slave maker
Formica biophilica	host	ant	Polyergus ruber	slave maker
Formica bradleyi	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica bradleyi	host	ant	Formica wheeleri	slave maker
Formica bruni	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Formica canadensis	host	ant	Polyergus breviceps	slave maker
Formica candida	host	ant	Polyergus nigerrimus	slave maker
Formica ciliata	host	ant	Formicoxenus hirticornis	xenobiont
Formica cinerea	host	ant	Formica sanguinea	slave maker
Formica cinerea	host	ant	Polyergus rufescens	slave maker
Formica cinerea	mutualist	butterfly	Glaucopsyche alexis			Obregon et al. 2015
Formica clara	host	ant	Polyergus rufescens	slave maker
Formica cunicularia	host	ant	Formica sanguinea	slave maker
Formica cunicularia	host	ant	Polyergus rufescens	slave maker		Romani et al., 2006
Formica cunicularia	mutualist	butterfly	Zizeeria knysna			Obregon et al. 2015
Formica curiosa	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica dakotensis	temporary parasite	ant	Formica fusca	host
Formica dakotensis	temporary parasite	ant	Formica lepida	host
Formica dakotensis	temporary parasite	ant	Formica montana	host
Formica dakotensis	temporary parasite	ant	Formica pallidefulva	host
Formica dakotensis	temporary parasite	ant	Formica subsericea	host
Formica decipiens	host	fungus	Aegeritella superficialis	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica densiventris	slave maker	ant	Formica argentea	host
Formica densiventris	slave maker	ant	Formica fusca	host
Formica densiventris	slave maker	ant	Formica neogagates	host
Formica densiventris	slave maker	ant	Formica neorufibarbis	host
Formica densiventris	slave maker	ant	Formica subpolita	host
Formica densiventris	slave maker	ant	Formica subsericea	host
Formica difficilis	host	ant	Formica pergandei	slave maker
Formica difficilis	temporary parasite	ant	Formica incerta	host
Formica dirksi	temporary parasite	ant	Formica subaenescens	host
Formica dolosa	host	ant	Formica pergandei	slave maker
Formica dolosa	host	ant	Polyergus longicornis	slave maker
Formica dolosa	host	ant	Polyergus sanwaldi	slave maker		Goodloe and Sanwald, 1985; Goodloe, Sanwald and Topoff, 1987
Formica exsecta	host	ant	Formicoxenus nitidulus	xenobiont		Holldobler & Wilson 1990; Busch 2001; Martin et al. 2007
Formica exsecta	host	beetle	Monotoma angusticollis (Coleopotera: Monotomidae)	myrmecophile	Europe	Wagner et al., 2020
Formica exsecta	host	fungus	Aegeritella superficialis			Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica exsecta	temporary parasite	ant	Formica fusca
Formica exsecta	temporary parasite	ant	Formica lemani
Formica exsectoides	host	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon abstrusus	predator	Maryland (type), Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia	Thompson, 1981
Formica fennica	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Formica foreli	temporary parasite	ant	unkown	host			primary host likely to be ''F. fusca'', ''F. cunicularia'' or ''F. rufibarbis''
Formica foreliana	host	ant	Polyergus topoffi	slave maker
Formica forsslundi	mutualist	butterfly	Glaucopsyche alexis			Obregon et al. 2015
Formica forsslundi	temporary parasite	ant	Formica transkaucasica	host
Formica fossaceps	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica fukaii	host	ant	Polyergus samurai	slave maker			a relatively rare host
Formica fukaii	temporary parasite	ant	Formica japonica	host		Kubota & Kondoh, 1954; Hayashida, 1963
Formica fukaii	temporary parasite	ant	Formica lemani	host		Yamaoka, 1977
Formica fusca	host	ant	Formica exsecta	temporary parasite
Formica fusca	host	ant	Formica rufa	temporary parasite
Formica fusca	host	ant	Formica sanguinea	slave maker
Formica fusca	host	ant	Formica suecica	temporary parasite
Formica fusca	host	ant	Polyergus rufescens	slave maker
Formica fusca	host	eucharitid wasp	Eucharis esakii	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Formica fusca	host	eulophid wasp	Melittobia acasta	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Formica fusca	host	fungus	Aegeritella superficialis	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica fusca	host	fungus	Aegeritella tuberculata	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica fusca	host	fungus	Ophiocordyceps myrmecophila	pathogen		Shrestha et al., 2017
Formica fusca	host	nematode	Comanimermis clujensis	parasite		Coman, 1953
Formica fusca	mutualist	butterfly	Glaucopsyche alexis			Obregon et al. 2015
Formica gagates	host	ant	Polyergus rufescens	slave maker
Formica gagatoides	host	ant	Formica sanguinea	slave maker
Formica gerardi	host	ant	Polyergus rufescens	slave maker
Formica glabridorsis	host	ant	Polyergus samurai	slave maker
Formica gnava	host	ant	Polyergus topoffi	slave maker
Formica hayashi	host	ant	Polyergus samurai	slave maker			a relatively rare host
Formica hewitti	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica incerta	host	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon ocellaris	predator	Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania (type), South Carolina	Curran, 1924
Formica incerta	host	ant	Formica difficilis	temporary parasite
Formica incerta	host	ant	Formica pergandei	slave maker
Formica incerta	host	ant	Polyergus lucidus	slave maker
Formica incerta	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica indianensis	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Formica integroides	host	ant	Formicoxenus hirticornis	xenobiont
Formica japonica	host	ant	Polyergus samurai	slave maker
Formica japonica	host	butterfly	Lampides argyrognomon	myrmecophile		Mizuno et al., 2018
Formica japonica	host	histerid beetle	Hetaerius gratus	myrmecophile		Kubota, 1965
Formica japonica	host	Staphylinid beetle	Kigatrodes gracilis	myrmecophile		Sawada, 1974
Formica knighti	temporary parasite	ant	Formica subsericea	host			needs confirmation
Formica kozlovi	host	ant	Polyergus nigerrimus	slave maker
Formica lasioides	host	ant	Formica microgyna	temporary parasite		Gregg, 1963; Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Formica lasioides	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica lasioides	host	ant	Formica wheeleri	slave maker
Formica lasioides	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica lemani	host	ant	Formica exsecta	temporary parasite
Formica lemani	host	ant	Formica pressilabris	temporary parasite
Formica lemani	host	ant	Formica sanguinea	slave maker
Formica lemani	host	ant	Formica suecica	temporary parasite
Formica lepida	host	ant	Formica dakotensis	temporary parasite
Formica lepida	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica lepida	host	ant	Formica wheeleri	slave maker
Formica lugubris	host	ant	Formicoxenus nitidulus	xenobiont		Holldobler & Wilson 1990; Busch 2001; Martin et al. 2007
Formica lugubris	host	beetle	Monotoma angusticollis (Coleopotera: Monotomidae)	myrmecophile	Europe	Wagner et al., 2020
Formica lugubris	host	fungus	Aegeritella superficialis	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica manchu	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Formica manni	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica mesasiatica	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Formica microgyna	temporary parasite	ant	Formica argentea	host		Gregg, 1963; Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Formica microgyna	temporary parasite	ant	Formica fusca	host		Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Formica microgyna	temporary parasite	ant	Formica lasioides	host		Gregg, 1963; Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Formica microgyna	temporary parasite	ant	Formica neogagates	host		Gregg, 1963; Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Formica microphthalma	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica moki	host	ant	Polyergus vinosus	slave maker
Formica moki	xenobiont	ant	Temnothorax andrei	xenobiont		Mann, 1911	nature of relationship unknown
Formica montana	host	ant	Formica dakotensis	temporary parasite
Formica montana	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica montana	host	ant	Polyergus breviceps	slave maker
Formica montana	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica morsei	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Formica neoclara	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica neoclara	host	ant	Polyergus breviceps	slave maker
Formica neoclara	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica neogagates	host	ant	Formica densiventris	slave maker		Mackay and Mackay 2002
Formica neogagates	host	ant	Formica microgyna	temporary parasite		Gregg, 1963; Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Formica neogagates	host	ant	Formica pergandei	slave maker		Mackay and Mackay 2002
Formica neogagates	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica neogagates	host	ant	Formica wheeleri	slave maker		Mackay and Mackay 2002
Formica neogagates	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica neogagates	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica neorufibarbis	host	ant	Formica adamsi	slave maker		Mackay and Mackay 2002
Formica neorufibarbis	host	ant	Formica adamsi alpina	slave maker		Mackay and Mackay 2002
Formica neorufibarbis	host	ant	Formica aserva	slave maker		Wheeler and Wheeler 1986
Formica neorufibarbis	host	ant	Formica densiventris	slave maker
Formica neorufibarbis	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica neorufibarbis	host	ant	Formica wheeleri	slave maker
Formica neorufibarbis	host	ant	Polyergus bicolor	slave maker
Formica neorufibarbis	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker		Mackay and Mackay 2002	as ''Polyergus breviceps''
Formica neorufibarbis	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus nebrascensis	myrmecophile	United States
Formica nepticula	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Formica nevadensis	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Formica obscuripes	host	''Microdon'' fly	Microdon xanthopilis	predator	California (type), Idaho, Washington	Townsend, 1895
Formica obscuripes	host	ant	Formica talbotae	workerless inquiline	British Columbia, Canada
Formica obscuripes	host	ant	Formicoxenus diversipilosus	xenobiont
Formica obscuripes	host	ant	Formicoxenus hirticornis	xenobiont
Formica obscuripes	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus manni	myrmecophile	Mexico, United States
Formica obscuripes	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus nebrascensis	myrmecophile	United States
Formica obscuripes	host	eurytomid wasp	Sycophila sp.	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica obscuripes	temporary parasite	ant	Formica pacifica	host
Formica obscuriventris	host	ant	Formica pergandei	slave maker
Formica obscuriventris	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica obscuriventris	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus pergandei	myrmecophile	United States
Formica obtusopilosa	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica occulta	host	ant	Polyergus breviceps	slave maker		Mackay and Mackay, 2002
Formica occulta	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica oreas	host	eucharitid wasp	Orasema coloradensis	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	associate
Formica pacifica	host	ant	Formica obscuripes	temporary parasite	British Columbia, Canada	J. Roth, pers. comm., 2019
Formica pacifica	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica pallidefulva	host	ant	Formica dakotensis	temporary parasite
Formica pallidefulva	host	ant	Formica pergandei	slave maker
Formica pallidefulva	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica pallidefulva	host	ant	Formica subintegra	slave maker		Mackay and Mackay, 2002
Formica pallidefulva	host	ant	Polyergus montivagus	slave maker
Formica pallidefulva	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus pergandei	myrmecophile	United States
Formica pallidefulva	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica pallidefulva	prey	tiger beetle	Cicindela bellissima	predator	United States	Valenti & Gaimari, 2000; Polidori et al., 2020
Formica pergandei	slave maker	ant	Formica biophilica	host
Formica pergandei	slave maker	ant	Formica difficilis	host
Formica pergandei	slave maker	ant	Formica dolosa	host
Formica pergandei	slave maker	ant	Formica fusca	host
Formica pergandei	slave maker	ant	Formica incerta	host
Formica pergandei	slave maker	ant	Formica neogagates	host		Mackay and Mackay, 2002
Formica pergandei	slave maker	ant	Formica obscuriventris	host
Formica pergandei	slave maker	ant	Formica pallidefulva	host
Formica pergandei	slave maker	ant	Formica podzolica	host
Formica pergandei	slave maker	ant	Formica subsericea	host
Formica picea	host	ant	Formica sanguinea	slave maker
Formica pisarskii	host	ant	Formicoxenus nitidulus	xenobiont		Holldobler & Wilson 1990; Busch 2001; Martin et al. 2007
Formica pisarskii	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Formica podzolica	host	ant	Formica aserva	slave maker
Formica podzolica	host	ant	Formica pergandei	slave maker
Formica podzolica	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica polyctena	host	ant	Formicoxenus nitidulus	xenobiont		Holldobler & Wilson 1990; Busch 2001; Martin et al. 2007
Formica polyctena	host	beetle	Monotoma angusticollis (Coleopotera: Monotomidae)	myrmecophile	Europe	Wagner et al., 2020
Formica polyctena	host	fungus	Aegeritella superficialis	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica polyctena	host	fungus	Ophiocordyceps myrmecophila	pathogen		Shrestha et al., 2017
Formica postoculata	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Formica pratensis	host	ant	Formicoxenus nitidulus	xenobiont		Holldobler & Wilson 1990; Busch 2001; Martin et al. 2007
Formica pratensis	host	beetle	Monotoma angusticollis (Coleopotera: Monotomidae)	myrmecophile	Europe	Wagner et al., 2020
Formica pratensis	host	eulophid wasp	Melittobia acasta	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Formica pratensis	host	fungus	Aegeritella superficialis	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica pratensis	host	fungus	Ophiocordyceps myrmecophila	pathogen		Shrestha et al., 2017
Formica pratensis	mutualist	butterfly	Glaucopsyche alexis			Obregon et al. 2015
Formica pressilabris	host	fungus	Aegeritella tuberculata	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica pressilabris	temporary parasite	ant	Formica lemani	host
Formica puberula	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica querquetulana	temporary parasite	ant	Formica fusca	host
Formica ravida	host	ant	Formicoxenus hirticornis	xenobiont
Formica ravida	xenobiont	ant	Temnothorax andrei	xenobiont		Mackay & Mackay, 1984	nature of relationship unknown
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica altipetens	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica argentea	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica aserva	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica bradleyi	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica fossaceps	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica fusca	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica lasioides	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica lepida	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica montana	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica neoclara	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica neogagates	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica neorufibarbis	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica obscuriventris	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica obtusopilosa	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica pallidefulva	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Formica subsericea	host
Formica rubicunda	slave maker	ant	Myrmica	host
Formica rufa	host	ant	Formicoxenus nitidulus	xenobiont		Holldobler & Wilson 1990; Busch 2001; Martin et al. 2007
Formica rufa	host	beetle	Monotoma angusticollis (Coleopotera: Monotomidae)	myrmecophile	Europe	Wagner et al., 2020
Formica rufa	host	eucharitid wasp	Eucharis adscendens	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Formica rufa	host	eucharitid wasp	Eucharis bedeli	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Formica rufa	host	fungus	Aegeritella sp.	pathogen		photo by Michal Kukla
Formica rufa	host	fungus	Aegeritella superficialis	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica rufa	host	fungus	Aegeritella tuberculata	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica rufa	host	fungus	Ophiocordyceps myrmecophila	pathogen		Shrestha et al., 2017
Formica rufa	host	nematode	Oscheius dolichurus	parasite		Janet, 1893; Wahab, 1962
Formica rufa	host	nematode	Pristionchus lheritieri	parasite		Wahab, 1962
Formica rufa	temporary parasite	ant	Formica fusca	host
Formica rufibarbis	host	ant	Formica sanguinea	slave maker
Formica rufibarbis	host	ant	Polyergus rufescens	slave maker
Formica rufibarbis	host	fungus	Aegeritella tuberculata	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica sanguinea	host	bacterium	Entomoplasma			Haapaniemi and Pamilo, 2015	~20% infection frequency
Formica sanguinea	host	bacterium	Spiroplasma			Haapaniemi and Pamilo, 2015	80% infection frequency
Formica sanguinea	host	bacterium	Wolbachia			Haapaniemi and Pamilo, 2015	51% infection frequency
Formica sanguinea	host	eulophid wasp	Melittobia acasta	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Formica sanguinea	host	fungus	Aegeritella superficialis	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica sanguinea	host	fungus	Ophiocordyceps myrmecophila	pathogen		Shrestha et al., 2017
Formica sanguinea	mutualist	butterfly	Glaucopsyche alexis			Obregon et al. 2015
Formica sanguinea	slave maker	ant	Formica candida	host
Formica sanguinea	slave maker	ant	Formica cinerea	host
Formica sanguinea	slave maker	ant	Formica cunicularia	host
Formica sanguinea	slave maker	ant	Formica fusca	host
Formica sanguinea	slave maker	ant	Formica gagatoides	host
Formica sanguinea	slave maker	ant	Formica hayashi	host		Japanese Ant Image Database
Formica sanguinea	slave maker	ant	Formica japonica	host		Japanese Ant Image Database
Formica sanguinea	slave maker	ant	Formica lemani	host		Japanese Ant Image Database
Formica sanguinea	slave maker	ant	Formica picea	host
Formica sanguinea	slave maker	ant	Formica rufibarbis	host
Formica sanguinea	slave maker	ant	Formica transkaucasica	host
Formica sanguinea	slave maker	ant	Myrmica jessensis	host		Hayashida, 1966
Formica scitula	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Formica spatulata	temporary parasite	ant	unknown	host
Formica subaenescens	host	ant	Formica dakotensis	temporary parasite
Formica subaenescens	host	ant	Formica densiventris	slave maker
Formica subaenescens	host	ant	Formica dirksi	slave maker		Mackay and Mackay 2002
Formica subaenescens	host	ant	Formica microgyna	temporary parasite		Gregg, 1963; Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Formica subaenescens	host	ant	Formica pergandei	slave maker
Formica subaenescens	host	ant	Formica querquetulana	temporary parasite
Formica subaenescens	host	ant	Formica rubicunda	slave maker
Formica subaenescens	host	ant	Formica ulkei	temporary parasite
Formica subaenescens	host	ant	Formica wheeleri	slave maker
Formica subaenescens	host	ant	Polyergus bicolor	slave maker
Formica subaenescens	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica subcyanea	host	ant	Polyergus topoffi	slave maker
Formica subintegra	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica subintegra	slave maker	ant	Formica pallidefulva	host		Mackay & Mackay, 2002
Formica subintegra	slave maker	ant	Formica podzolica	host		Savolainen & Deslippe, 2001
Formica subnitens	host	eucharitid wasp	Orasema coloradensis	parasite		Wheeler, 1907; Johnson et al., 1986; Baker et al., 2019; Universal Chalcidoidea Database	questionable, needs confirmation
Formica subpolita	host	ant	Formica densiventris	slave maker
Formica subpolita	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica subpolita	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica subsericea	host	ant	Formica dakotensis	temporary parasite
Formica subsericea	host	ant	Formica densiventris	slave maker
Formica subsericea	host	ant	Formica knighti	temporary parasite			needs confirmation
Formica subsericea	host	ant	Formica pergandei	slave maker
Formica subsericea	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica subsericea	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus pergandei	myrmecophile	United States
Formica subsericea	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica suecica	temporary parasite	ant	Formica fusca	host			needs confirmation
Formica suecica	temporary parasite	ant	Formica lemani	host
Formica suecica	temporary parasite	ant	Formica transkaucasica	host
Formica talbotae	workerless inquiline	ant	Formica obscuripes	host
Formica transkaucasica	host	ant	Formica forsslundi	temporary parasite
Formica transkaucasica	host	ant	Formica sanguinea	slave maker
Formica transkaucasica	host	ant	Formica suecica	temporary parasite
Formica transkaucasica	host	ant	Formica uralensis	temporary parasite
Formica truncorum	host	ant	Formicoxenus nitidulus	xenobiont		Holldobler & Wilson 1990; Busch 2001; Martin et al. 2007
Formica truncorum	host	fungus	Aegeritella superficialis	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica ulkei	temporary parasite	ant	Formica fusca	host
Formica uralensis	host	ant	Formicoxenus nitidulus	xenobiont		Holldobler & Wilson 1990; Busch 2001; Martin et al. 2007
Formica uralensis	temporary parasite	ant	Formica transkaucasica	host
Formica vinculans	host	ant	Polyergus mexicanus	slave maker
Formica vinculans	host	fungus	Laboulbenia formicarum	pathogen		Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012
Formica wheeleri Creighton	slave maker	ant	Formica altipetens	host
Formica wheeleri Creighton	slave maker	ant	Formica bradleyi	host
Formica wheeleri Creighton	slave maker	ant	Formica fusca	host
Formica wheeleri Creighton	slave maker	ant	Formica lasioides	host
Formica wheeleri Creighton	slave maker	ant	Formica lepida	host
Formica wheeleri Creighton	slave maker	ant	Formica neogagates	host		Mackay and Mackay, 2002
Formica wheeleri Creighton	slave maker	ant	Formica neorufibarbis	host

Morphology

Worker Morphology

• Antennal segment count: 12
• Antennal club: absent
• Palp formula: 6,4; 5,4
• Total dental count: 7-10(0-3)
• Spur formula: 1 simple, 1 simple
• Eyes: present, ocelli present
• Scrobes: absent
• Caste: some with marked size-variation
• Sting: absent

Karyotype

Species Uncertain

• Formica sp.3: n = 27 (Crozier, 1975) ('Formica fusca group).
• Formica sp.4: n = 26 (Crozier, 1975).

All Karyotype Records for Genus

Explore Data: All, Drilldown

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Taxon	Haploid	Diploid	Karyotype	Locality	Source	Notes
Formica	26				Crozier, 1975
Formica	27				Crozier, 1975	'Formica fusca'' group
Formica aquilonia	26			Finland	Rosengren et al., 1980
Formica candida	6	52		Japan	Imai, 1969	as ''F. picea''
Formica cinerea	27	54		Switzerland	Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976
Formica cunicularia	27	54		France	Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976
Formica dakotensis	26				Crozier, 1975
Formica exsecta	26	52		Switzerland	Agosti & Hauschteck-Jungen, 1987; Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976
Formica frontalis		52		Spain	Lorite et al., 2002b; Lorite et al., 2004a
Formica fusca	27	54		Germany; Japan; Switerland	Imai, 1969 ; Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976
Formica gagates	27	54		France; old Yugoslavia	Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976
Formica gerardi	27			Spain	Lorite et al., 1998a; Lorite et al., 2002b
Formica japonica	27	54		Japan	Imai & Yosida, 1964; Imai, 1966; Imai, 1969; Crozier, 1975
Formica lemani		54		Switzerland	Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976
Formica lugubris	26	52		Finland; Switzerland	Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976; Rosengren et al., 1980
Formica montana	27	54		USA	Hung, 1969
Formica obscuripes	26			USA	Hung, 1969
Formica pergandei	26				Crozier, 1975
Formica picea	26	52		Switzerland	Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976
Formica polyctena	26	52		Finland; Switzerland	Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976; Rosengren et al., 1980
Formica pratensis	26	52		Finland; Switzerland	Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976; Rosengren et al., 1980
Formica pressilabris	26			Finland	Rosengren et al., 1980
Formica reflexa	26				Crozier, 1975
Formica rufa	26	52		Switzerland	Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976
Formica rufibarbis	27	54		Finland; Switzerland	Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976; Rosengren et al., 1980
Formica sanguinea	26	52		Japan; Switzerland	Imai & Yosida, 1964; Imai, 1966; Imai, 1969; Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976
Formica subintegra	26			USA	Hung, 1969
Formica transkaucasica	26			Finland	Rosengren et al., 1980	as ''F. transkaucasica'' (incertae sedis)
Formica truncorum	26	52		Finland; Japan; Switzerland	Imai & Yosida, 1964; Imai, 1969; Hauschteck-Jungen & Jungen, 1976; Rosengren et al., 1980
Formica truncorum	28			Finland	Rosengren et al., 1980	Only one pupa analyzed was ''n=27
Formica ulkei	26			USA	Hung, 1969
Formica uralensis	26			Finland	Rosengren et al., 1980
Formica yessensis	26	52		Japan	Imai, 1966; Imai, 1969

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• FORMICA [Formicinae: Formicini]
  • Formica Linnaeus, 1758: 579. Type-species: Formica rufa, by subsequent designation of Curtis, 1839: 752.
  • Formica senior synonym of Formicina: Wheeler, W.M. 1911c: 860; Wheeler, W.M. 1911f: 164.
  • Formica senior synonym of Raptiformica, Serviformica: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 699 (footnote).
  • Formica senior synonym of Coptoformica (and its junior synonym Adformica): Smith, M.R. 1951a: 860; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1448.
  • Formica senior synonym of Neoformica: Buren, 1968a: 39.
  • Formica senior synonym of Coptoformica, Formicina, Neoformica, Raptiformica, Serviformica: Agosti, 1994a: 106.
• ADFORMICA [junior synonym of Formica]
  • Adformica Lomnicki, 1925a: 164 [as subgenus of Formica]. Type-species: Formica exsecta, by subsequent designation of Donisthorpe, 1927b: 316.
  • Adformica junior synonym of Coptoformica: Stitz, 1939: 306 (as Adformica and Coptoformica share the same type-species synonymy is absolute).
• COPTOFORMICA [junior synonym of Formica]
  • Coptoformica Müller, 1923: 146 [as subgenus of Formica]. Type-species: Formica exsecta, by subsequent designation of Donisthorpe, 1941f: 37.
  • Coptoformica senior synonym of Adformica: Stitz, 1939: 306 (as Adformica and Coptoformica share the same type-species synonymy is absolute).
  • Coptoformica junior synonym of Formica: Smith, M.R. 1951a: 860; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1448; Agosti, 1994a: 107.
• FORMICINA [junior synonym of Formica]
  • Formicina Shuckard, in Swainson & Shuckard, 1840: 172. Type-species: Formica rufa, by subsequent designation of Wheeler, W.M. 1911f: 164.
  • [Type-species not Formica flava, unjustified subsequent designation by Emery, 1916a: 61 (footnote); repeated by Emery, 1916b: 239 and Wheeler, W.M. 1916k: 170.]
  • Formicina junior synonym of Formica: Wheeler, W.M. 1911c: 860; Wheeler, W.M. 1911f: 164.
  • Formicina incorrectly as replacement name for Lasius Fabricius: Emery, 1916a: 60; Emery, 1916b: 239; Bondroit, 1918: 19.
  • Formicina incorrectly as subgenus of Lasius: Wheeler, W.M. 1916k: 172.
  • Formicina incorrectly as junior synonym of Lasius: Emery, 1925b: 226; Brown, 1973b: 180.
  • Formicina incorrectly as junior synonym of Acanthomyops: Donisthorpe, 1927b: 209.
  • Formicina junior synonym of Formica: Agosti, 1994a: 106.
  • [Formica and Formicina share the same type-species, synonymy is therefore absolute.]
• NEOFORMICA [junior synonym of Formica]
  • Neoformica Wheeler, W.M. 1913a: 82 [as subgenus of Formica]. Type-species: Formica pallidefulva, by original designation.
  • [Neoformica also described as new by Wheeler, W.M. 1913f: 548.]
  • Neoformica junior synonym of Formica: Buren, 1968a: 39; Agosti, 1994a: 107.
• RAPTIFORMICA [junior synonym of Formica]
  • Raptiformica Forel, 1913i: 361 [as subgenus of Formica]. Type-species: Formica sanguinea, by original designation.
  • Raptiformica subgenus of Formica: Forel, 1917: 250; Emery, 1925b: 258; Creighton, 1950a: 460.
  • Raptiformica junior synonym of Formica: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 699 (footnote); Smith, D.R. 1979: 1448; Agosti, 1994a: 107.
• SERVIFORMICA [junior synonym of Formica]
  • Serviformica Forel, 1913i: 361 [as subgenus of Formica]. Type-species: Formica fusca, by original designation.
  • Serviformica subgenus of Formica: Forel, 1913i: 361; Forel, 1917: 250; Emery, 1925b: 245.
  • Serviformica junior synonym of Formica: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 699 (footnote); Francoeur, 1973: 34; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1448; Agosti, 1994a: 106.

References

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• Agosti, D. 1994b. The phylogeny of the ant tribe Formicini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with the description of a new genus. Syst. Entomol. 19: 93-117 (page 106, Formica senior synonym of Coptoformica (and its junior synonym Adformica), Formicina, Hypochira, Iberoformica, Neoformica, Raptiformica, and Serviformica)
• Agosti, D.; Collingwood, C. A. 1987b. A provisional list of the Balkan ants (Hym. Formicidae) with a key to the worker caste. II. Key to the worker caste, including the European species without the Iberian. Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 60: 261-293 (page 285, Balkans)
• Arnol'di, K. V.; Dlussky, G. M. 1978. Superfam. Formicoidea. 1. Fam. Formicidae - ants. Pp. 519-556 in: Medvedev, G. S. (ed.) Keys to the insects of the European part of the USSR. Vol. 3. Hymenoptera. Part 1. Opredeliteli Faune SSSR 119:3-584. (page 552, former European USSR)
• Ashmead, W. H. 1905c. A skeleton of a new arrangement of the families, subfamilies, tribes and genera of the ants, or the superfamily Formicoidea. Can. Entomol. 37: 381-384 (page 384, Formica in Formicinae, Formicini)
• Babarinde, S.A., Mvumi, B.M., Babarinde, G.O., Manditsera, F.A., Akande, T.O., Adepoju, A.A. 2020. Insects in food and feed systems in sub-Saharan Africa: the untapped potentials. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science. (doi:10.1007/s42690-020-00305-6).
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• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 128, Formica in Formicinae, Formicini)
• Bondroit, J. 1918. Les fourmis de France et de Belgique. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 87: 1-174 (page 41, Formica in Formicinae, Formicini)
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• Buren, W. F. 1968a. Some fundamental taxonomic problems in Formica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Ga. Entomol. Soc. 3: 25-40 (page 39, Formica senior synonym of Neoformica)
• Collingwood, C. A. 1978. A provisional list of Iberian Formicidae with a key to the worker caste (Hym. Aculeata). EOS. Rev. Esp. Entomol. 52: 65-95 (page 93, Iberian Peninsula)
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• Cotti, G. 1963. Bibliografia ragionata 1930-1961 del gruppo Formica rufa in Italiano, Deutsch, English. Collana Verde 8: 1-413 (page 1, rufa-group)
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• Curtis, J. 1839. Formica rufa. The red, hill, or horse Ant, or Pismire. Plate 752 [plus 2 unnumbered pages of text] in: Curtis, J. British entomology; being illustrations and descriptions of the genera of insects found in Great Britain and Ireland. Volum (page 752, Type-species: Formica rufa; by subsequent designation)
• Dalla Torre, K. W. von. 1893. Catalogus Hymenopterorum hucusque descriptorum systematicus et synonymicus. Vol. 7. Formicidae (Heterogyna). Leipzig: W. Engelmann, 289 pp. (page 192, Formica in Camponotinae)
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