Formica pallidefulva group

Trager et al (2007) - The Formica pallidefulva species group is endemic to eastern and central United States, with two species extending west into the Great Plains and lower elevations in the Rocky Mountains and north into eastern Canada.


 * Formica archboldi
 * Formica biophilica
 * Formica dolosa
 * Formica incerta
 * Formica pallidefulva

The species of the pallidefulva group are distinguished from others in Formica by gracile body form and elongate appendages; integument moderately to strongly shining; propodeum in profile with the angle between dorsal and posterior faces completely obscured by rounding or at most indistinct (Figure 4a-e); external mesometasternum of uniformly simple structure through the group (Figure 1), this structure unadorned or rarely with a few erect setae; male genitalia with elongate parameres; and behavior and habitat choice generally thermophilous.

They mainly inhabit grassland and open woodland habitats; only Formica pallidefulva Latreille is normally also associated with closed canopy forest.

There are no social parasites in the group, and all have a clear size difference between the workers and queens. These species are hosts of dulotic Polyergus lucidus (sensu lato) and some F. sanguinea group species. They are also temporary hosts during colony-foundation for some species in the F. rufa / microgyna group (Wheeler 1904, Creighton 1950). Colonies typically contain 500 or fewer workers (Wheeler 1904, Talbot 1948). Nests are inconspicuous except when opening onto bare ground, but may bear a small mound nestled among herbaceous vegetation of grasslands or savannas, or occasionally a somewhat larger mound. Nests are quite often under stones or other cover objects in cooler parts of the range, but generally not so further south. Recruitment of individuals by social transport occurs during nest relocation, which may occur one or more times per year in some colonies. Robson and Traniello (1998) have given a thorough accounting of foraging and recruitment in Formica incerta and Formica dolosa (vouchers seen). Wheeler (1904) first described the “top-heavy” nests composed of broad chambers and narrow interconnecting passages of species in this group, and Talbot (1948) also described and illustrated them. Mikheyev and Tschinkel (2000) have provided a modern study of nest architecture and economics of nest building of one species. Milford (1999) reports the presence of a species in riparian forests along the Rio Grande. (Presumably, F. pallidefulva was the subject of these two recent studies, but vouchers were not available for identification). Bale, et al. (2004) reported on the role of “Formica schaufussi” in dispersing seeds of trilliums, and how the ants hastened the retrieval and transport of these seeds when disturbed by yellowjackets (no vouchers seen).