Formica subaenescens

In New Mexico (Mackay and Mackay 2002) this ant nests in soil or under stones and in logs (primarily very rotten and soft). They occasionally have an earthen mound. Brood was found in nests from May to August, reproductives were found in nests from July to September, dealate females were found in August and September. This species nests together with Myrmica lobifrons and with Monomorium minimum and Monomorium cyaneum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: Canada, United States. Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Habitat
In New Mexico (Mackay and Mackay 2002) - Widely distributed in mesic habitats, including forests and open areas, ponderosa pine-riparian, pinyon juniper, aspen forests, Douglas fir forests, absent only in semiarid and arid habitats and above timberline.

Other Insects
Host for the slave-making ants:

Host for the temporary parasites:

Nomenclature

 *  subaenescens. Formica fusca var. subaenescens Emery, 1893i: 659 (w.) U.S.A.
 * [Misspelled as subaeneus by Menozzi, 1932b: 312.]
 * Wheeler, W.M. 1913f: 504 (q.m.).
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Wheeler, W.M. 1913f: 504; Emery, 1925b: 248; Menozzi, 1932b: 312.
 * Subspecies of fusca: Wheeler, W.M. 1900c: 47; Forel, 1902i: 699; Forel, 1904a: 153; Wheeler, W.M. 1905f: 401; Wheeler, W.M. 1906b: 20; Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 570; Santschi, 1911d: 7; Wheeler, W.M. 1913f: 399 (in key); Wheeler, W.M. 1916m: 599; Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 546; Cole, 1936a: 37; Dennis, 1938: 300; Wing, 1939: 165; Cole, 1942: 382; Buren, 1944a: 300; Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, E.W. 1944: 261; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 865.
 * Junior synonym of fusca: Creighton, 1950a: 532; Francoeur, 1973: 189; Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 16.
 * Status as species: Francoeur, 1977b: 208; Bolton, 1995b: 204; Mackay & Mackay, 2002: 371; Ellison, et al. 2012: 173; Schar et al., 2018: 6.