Formica accreta

Identification
This is a black species with the metasternal process poorly developed. The gena is without coarse punctures, although poorly defined, elongate punctures are located just anterior to the eyes. The scapes are usually longer than the head length. The anterior border of the clypeus is angulate, the eyes are large (maximum diameter 0.43 - 0.54 mm). The ventral surface of the head, posterior border, dorsum of the mesosoma and dorsum of the petiole are without erect hairs. The first gastral tergite has only 3 or 4 short (> 0.1 mm), blunt hairs. The dorsal surfaces of the head and mesosoma are weakly shining. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Distribution
Western Canada south to California, east to Montana, south to New Mexico.

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

Nomenclature

 *  accreta. Formica accreta Francoeur, 1973: 182, figs. 308-323 (w.q.m.) CANADA. Junior synonym of fusca: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 16. Revived from synonymy: Bolton, 1995b: 190.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Allred D. M. 1982. Ants of Utah. The Great Basin Naturalist 42: 415-511.
 * Allred, D.M. 1982. The ants of Utah. Great Basin Naturalist 42:415-511.
 * Blacker, N.C. 1992. Some Ants from Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. J. Entomol. Soc. Bri. Columbia 89:3-12.
 * Blacker, N.C. 1992. Some ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia 89:3-12
 * Francoeur. A. 1973. Revision taxonomique des especes nearctiques du group fusca, genre Formica. Memoires de la Societe Entomologique du Quebec 3: 1-316.
 * Glasier J. R. N., S. E. Nielsen, J. Acorn, and J. Pinzon. 2019. Boreal sand hills are areas of high diversity for Boreal ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Diversity 11, 22; doi:10.3390/d11020022.
 * Higgins R. J., and B. S. Lindgren. 2006. The fine scale physical attributes of coarse woody debris and effects of surrounding stand structure on its utilization by ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in British Columbia, Canada. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-93. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station pp. 67-73.
 * Longino, J.T. 2010. Personal Communication. Longino Collection Database
 * Mackay W. P., and E. E. Mackay. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 400 pp.
 * Parson G. L., G Cassis, A. R. Moldenke, J. D. Lattin, N. H. Anderson, J. C. Miller, P. Hammond, T. Schowalter. 1991. Invertebrates of the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, western Cascade Range, Oregon. V: An annotated list of insects and other arthropods. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-290. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 168 p.
 * Ratchford, J.S., S.E. Wittman, E.S. Jules, A.M. Ellison, N.J. Gotelli and N.J. Sanders. 2005. The effects of fire, local environment and time on ant assemblages in fens and forests. Diversity and Distributions 11:487-497.