Formica nepticula

Identification
The workers of this species are bicolored, with the head, mesosoma, petiole, and appendages yellowish red, with the gaster medium brown. Erect hairs are abundant on most surfaces, including the dorsum of the head, ventral surface of the head, the scape often has a few scattered, erect hairs, hairs are present on the dorsum of the mesosoma, dorsum of the petiole, and the gaster, hairs the tibiae are suberect. Many of the hairs, especially those on the mesosoma, are blunt-tipped.

The queen is a tiny specimen, much smaller than the largest worker, mostly pale yellowish brown, with numerous hairs on the same surfaces as the workers, the hairs are longer, and not noticeably blunt-tipped. The scape has a few, scattered, erect hairs.

This species could be confused with Formica knighti. To it differs in that the dorsum of the gaster is punctate, but is weakly to moderately shining, not dull as in F. knighti. It does not have the abundant erect an suberect hairs on the scapes and tibiae that are found in Formica impexa and Formica microgyna.

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

Biology
This species is likely to be a temporary parasite of another species of Formica, but its host is.

Nomenclature

 *  nepticula. Formica nepticula Wheeler, W.M. 1905c: 270 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. See also: Wheeler, W.M. 1913f: 475.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Coovert, G.A. 2005. The Ants of Ohio (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Ohio Biological Survey Bulletin New Series Volume 15(2):1-196
 * Del Toro, I. 2010. PERSONAL COMMUNICATION. MUSEUM RECORDS COLLATED BY ISRAEL DEL TORO
 * Shik, J., A. Francoeur and C. Buddle. 2005. The effect of human activity on ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) richness at the Mont St. Hilaire Biosphere Reserve, Quebec. Canadian Field-Naturalist 119(1): 38-42.
 * Talbot M. 1976. A list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Edwin S. George Reserve, Livingston County, Michigan. Great Lakes Entomologist 8: 245-246.
 * Wheeler G. C., J. N. Wheeler, and P. B. Kannowski. 1994. Checklist of the ants of Michigan (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The Great Lakes Entomologist 26(4): 297-310
 * Wheeler W. M. 1905. New species of Formica. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 21: 267-274.
 * Wheeler, G.C., J. Wheeler and P.B. Kannowski. 1994. CHECKLIST OF THE ANTS OF MICHIGAN (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE). Great Lakes Entomologist 26:1:297-310