Nylanderia vividula

Nests are found in a wide variety of habitats across the Nearctic, ranging from under stones in forests to urban environments. Substrates can include everything from fine sandy clay to damp potting soil. The adaptive nature of this species translates into its distribution across much of the Nearctic region of the United States and Mexico. Reproductives may fly year round, given it is sufficiently warm and humid, and males are usually present in the nest (Trager, 1984) (Kallal & LaPolla, 2012).

It is notable that this is probably the only native Nearctic species to be found outside the Nearctic region. Its type locality is in Europe, and collections have been cited in both Africa and the Neotropics (Kallal & LaPolla, 2012).

Distribution
This taxon was described from Finland. It is also found in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Biology
Hab. in caldariis temperaturae circ. + 25 C. horti botanici Helsingforsicnsis frequenter, Coccos plantarum avide investigans; agilissime cursitans, pavida. Nidificat in rimis caementi parietum et pavimentorum. Coit auctumno a fine m. Augusti ad Octobr. et Novembr.; inveniuntur tamen saltem mares usque ad initium anni sequeutis parcius. Paria copula juncta in parietibus caldariorum currentia vidi. E Rossia verisimiliter cum plautis hibernaculariis advecta est haec species, mitioris coeli primitus incola. A temperatura parum frigida cito soporatur. (Nylander 1846)

Nomenclature

 *  vividula. Formica vividula Nylander, 1846a: 900, pl. 18, figs. 2, 10-14 (w.q.m.) FINLAND. Combination in Prenolepis: Mayr, 1861: 52; in Pr. (Nylanderia): Emery, 1906b: 134; in Paratrechina (Nylanderia): Emery, 1925b: 223; in Nylanderia: Kempf, 1972a: 168; in Paratrechina: Trager, 1984b: 131; in Nylanderia: LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck, 2010a: 127. Senior synonym of picea: Mayr, 1876: 78; Mayr, 1886d: 431; of kincaidi Trager, 1984b: 75; of mjobergi: Kallal & LaPolla, 2012: 38. Current subspecies: nominal plus australis, mjobergi. See also: Emery, 1910a: 131; Radchenko, 2007: 33.
 * picea. Formica picea Buckley, 1866: 163 (w.) U.S.A. Junior synonym of vividula: Mayr, 1876: 78; Mayr, 1886d: 431. See also: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1444.
 * kincaidi. Prenolepis kincaidi Wheeler, W.M. 1906e: 350, fig. 1 (w.q.m.) BERMUDA. Combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia): Emery, 1925b: 222; in Nylanderia: Kempf, 1972a: 167. Junior synonym of vividula: Trager, 1984b: 75.
 * mjobergi. Prenolepis (Nylanderia) vividula var. mjobergi Forel, 1908b: 64 (w.) SWEDEN. Combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia): Emery, 1925b: 223; in Nylanderia: LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck, 2010a: 127. Junior synonym of vividula: Kallal & LaPolla, 2012: 38.

Worker
Long. ¾ - 1 lin. nitida, ore cum mandibulis, capite infra, thorace subtus et pedibus sordide testaceis; capite supra lateribusque et abdomine fuscis; thorace quoque supra fusco, sed dilutiori h. e. colore testaceo magis interlucente. Setae fuscae sat validae in capite, pro- et mesonoto (pulvinar eommune efficientibus) atque in abdomine conspersae, in abdomine tamen crebriores quam in cetero corpore. Autennae graciles long. fere ¾ lin. Laminal frontalis inter antennas vestigia solum obsoleta, marginibus scilicet nullis, fronteque aequaliter convexiuscula inter radice antennarum pauxillum tentum tumidiuscula. Ocelli nulli. Abdomen setosum magnitudinem capitis vix superans, ovatum.

Queen
Long. 1 1/2 lin. cinereo-micans, abdomine fusco, capite supra parum fuscescente, cetero corpore sordide testaceo. Caput fere ut in regina, scil. a latere visum ovalum; oculi parum prominuli, clypeus nitidus tumidulus in medio longitrorsum elevatus; sed differt lamina frontali parum distinctiori, antennis paulo validioribus licet ejusdem longitudinis, ocellis et canitie levi, certo situ micante. Scutellum deplanatum semicirculare. Melathorax postice declivis et squama nitentes; squama latere postico multo minus inclinato quam in regina; parum concaviusculo, margine supero subtilissime (microscopice) albo-setuloso medioque leviter emarginato Alae anticae long. 1 1/2 lin. Abdomen longitudine capitis thoracisque, thorace fere duplo latius, selis (ut etiam ceterum corpus), sed minoribus quam in regina, conspersum. Venter basi saepe pallescit.

Male
Long. 3/4 lin. nitidus fuscus; ore, articulationibus pedum, tarsis et genitalibus testaceis. Setae corporis fere ut in regina. Alae ut in diagnosi feminae; anticae long. 3/4 lin. Squama parva sursum rotundato-quadrata, postice concaviuscula. Abdomen (supra visum) circulare, longitudine vix thoracis. Appendices genitalium vaginis externis angustis distantibus intus curvatis flavido-pilosis, internis tenuibus rectis.

Additional References

 * Kallal, R.J. & LaPolla, J.S. 2012. Monograph of Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the World, Part II: Nylanderia in the Nearctic. Zootaxa 3508, 1-64.