Formica sibylla

Distribution
Oregon, California, and the Sierra Nevada in midwestern Nevada.

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

Biology
Nevada, Wheeler and Wheeler (1986) - This montane species is restricted to the Carson Range of the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe. Our 30 records are from 16 localities; 6,000-9,000 ft. All are in the Coniferous Forest Biome. This species constructed craters (Figs. 51, 52) in openings in the coniferous forest, where the soil was sandy and bare of vegetation. The dusty craters measured 15-28 cm in diameter and the rim was 2550 mm high: the entrance was large-19-38 mm. Frequently an enormous number of craters were clustered in a small area; we suspect that most were feeding stations, because we have never found brood upon excavation. We have found brood in only 2 nests both of which were under stones. The workers were very timid and fast.

Nomenclature

 *  sibylla. Formica sibylla Wheeler, W.M. 1913f: 530 (w.m.) U.S.A. See also: Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 551; Francoeur, 1973: 263.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Francoeur. A. 1973. Revision taxonomique des especes nearctiques du group fusca, genre Formica. Memoires de la Societe Entomologique du Quebec 3: 1-316.
 * La Rivers I. 1968. A first listing of the ants of Nevada. Biological Society of Nevada, Occasional Papers 17: 1-12.
 * Mallis A. 1941. A list of the ants of California with notes on their habits and distribution. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 40: 61-100.
 * Wheeler G. C., and J. Wheeler. 1986. The ants of Nevada. Los Angeles: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, vii + 138 pp.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1913. A revision of the ants of the genus Formica (Linné) Mayr. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 53: 379-565.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1917. The mountain ants of western North America. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 52: 457-569.
 * Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1978. Mountain ants of Nevada. Great Basin Naturalist 35(4):379-396