Formica aerata

Distribution
California, western Nevada, and southern Oregon.

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



Biology
Nevada, Wheeler and Wheeler (1986) - F. aerata is restricted to the Midwestern part of the state. We have 61 records from 37 localities; 3,900-8,200 ft., but 75% are between 4,000 ft. and 4,900 ft. Thirty-five of these records are from the Cool Desert, but only 2 are from pure sagebrush habitat; the remainder are scattered thus: 2 from Sarcobatus Subclimax, 4 from cottonwood groves, 8 from disturbed cottonwood groves, 12 from cottonwood riparian, 4 from riparian, and 3 from disturbed habitat. Only 1 was from the Coniferous Forest Biome. Seven nests were under stones, 1 was under slightly buried wood. Four nests were surmounted by messy craters 50-150 mm in diameter and 3 by messy irregular mounds of soil. Workers were fast and timid. They were often seen ascending and descending cottonwood trunks. Workers tended Macrosiphoniella zerothermum (Knowlton and Russell) (Homoptera: Aphididae; det. L.M. Russell) on Artemisia tridentate at Sonoma Stage Sta., Lyon Co., 6,100 ft.

Nomenclature

 *  aerata. Formica aerata Francoeur, 1973: 116, figs. 183-189 (w.q.) U.S.A.