Formica spatulata

Identification
The workers of the species are easily recognized, as the hairs on pronotum (as well ason the other bodily surfaces) are spatulate. The scape is without erect hairs, the tibiae are without erect hairs, except for a row bristles along the flexor surface. The dorsum of the head has abundant erect hairs, as well as remainder of the mesosoma, the dorsum and sides of the petiole, and the dorsum of the gaster.

The queens are only slightly smaller than the largest workers. The dorsum of the head has abundant erect in suberect hairs, as does ventral surface. The hairs on the mesosoma are mostly spatulate, hairs are present on the propodeum, the dorsum and sides of the petiole, and scattered across the gaster.

The spatulate hairs on the worker and female, will generally separate to species from all others. The presence of erect hairs on the propodeum, will separated from most of the other closely related species. It can be separated from Formica densiventris by the definitely spatulate hairs on the pronotum, which are only blunt-tipped in F. densiventris.

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

 *  spatulata. Formica microgyna subsp. spatulata Buren, 1944a: 305 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. Raised to species: Creighton, 1950a: 508.