Formica impexa

Formica implexa is known from only a few specimens.

Identification
The worker of this species is easily recognized, as there are several suberect hairs along the ex-tensor surface of the middle and posterior tibiae, as well as along the shaft of the scape. The entire head (dorsal and ventral surfaces), mesosoma, petiole, and gaster have numerous erect hairs, many of these are blunt-tipped to even spatulate, especially the hairs on the mesosoma. The head, mesosoma, and petiole are reddish-brown, the legs are medium brown, the gaster is dark brown. The dorsal surface of the gaster is dull and punctate, and discovered with scattered, erect hairs.

The queen is a small ant, about 2/3 the size of the largest major, with abundant erect and suberect hairs on the scapes and the tibiae. Erect hairs are abundant on other surfaces, including the upper and lower surfaces of the head, dorsum of the mesosoma, dorsum of the petiole, and dorsum of the gaster. Many of the hairs are blunt-tipped, which would serve to separate the queens of this species from those of Formica microgyna.

The numerous hairs on the tibiae, as well as along the shaft of the scape, would separate this species from nearly everything else in the microgyna group, except for F. microgyna. It can be separated from this species as the propodeum is lower, and suberect hairs on the gaster are approximately the same length.

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

Nomenclature

 *  impexa. Formica impexa Wheeler, W.M. 1905c: 273 (w.) U.S.A. Wheeler, W.M. 1906a: 40 (q.). See also: Wheeler, W.M. 1913f: 472.

Taxonomic Notes
It is possible that when more material becomes available, this species will be shown to be a synonym of F. microgyna.