Formica prociliata

This rare species is known to inhabitant glaciated tallgrass prairies and prairie remnants in Ohio, while the type material was taken from a number of nests in open oak woods on a rocky limestone ridge. At the type locality nests were built under stones on ledges and all lacked thatching, the lack of thatching being an exception to the general rule of thatching in the rufa group. Nests contained multiple queens. Poorly developed trails radiated 15 to 60 m from the nest area. It is likely to be a temporary social parasite of Formica pallidefulva. Colonies from Iowa were found to be fairly populous (Kennedy & Dennis, 1937; Buren, 1944; Creighton, 1950; Coovert, 2005; Ivanov, 2019).

Identification
Creighton (1950): This striking and beautiful species is most easily recognized from the female (queen). The dorsum of the gaster in the virgin female appears greyish because of a rather dense, appressed pubescence. This rubs away in the older females (as do many of the long hairs) leaving the gastric dorsum smooth and shining and revealing the very distinct brown band on each segment.

Coovert (2005): TL 5.5-8.0 mm. Head and mesosoma brownish-orange, slightly darkened dorsally, gaster blackish-brown to nearly black; mandibles and antennae concolorous, legs slightly darker; body with fine covering of appressed micro-pubescence, head and mesosoma moderately dull to weakly satiny (glossier on sides of head), gaster satiny with a distinct grayish cast. This is a smaller species than most other members of the rufa group.

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

Nomenclature

 *  prociliata. Formica prociliata Kennedy & Dennis, 1937: 531, figs. 1-9 (w.q.m.) U.S.A.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Coovert G. A. 2005. The Ants of Ohio (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ohio Biological Survey, Inc. 15(2): 1-207.
 * Coovert, G.A. 2005. The Ants of Ohio (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Ohio Biological Survey Bulletin New Series Volume 15(2):1-196
 * Ivanov, K. 2019. The ants of Ohio (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): an updated checklist. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 70: 65–87.
 * Trager J. Distributions of Nearctic Formica rufa group species. Personal communication 05 February 2014.
 * 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, G.C., J. Wheeler and P.B. Kannowski. 1994. CHECKLIST OF THE ANTS OF MICHIGAN (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE). Great Lakes Entomologist 26:1:297-310