Formica criniventris

These ants usually nest under stones and build thatched nests around the stone. It may enslave Formica argentea or Formica neoclara.

Identification
This is an attractive, bicolored ant (head and mesosoma red, gaster black), in which the mid and hind tibiae normally have only 1 or 2 erect or suberect hairs, located near the apices of the tibiae. The scapes are without erect hairs (except at the apex). The clypeal fossa is shallow and the surface of the clypeus is broadly convex. The suberect hairs on the gaster are widely scattered and sparse. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Distribution
United States: Montana and North Dakota, south Colorado and New Mexico.

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

Habitat
Forested areas, open meadows.

Nomenclature

 * crinita. Formica crinita Wheeler, W.M. 1909e: 87 (w.q.) U.S.A. [Junior primary homonym of crinita Smith, F. 1858b: 13, above.] Replacement name: criniventris Wheeler, W.M. 1912c: 90. [Formica crinita Wheeler, W.M. 1908g: 408. Nomen nudum.]
 *  criniventris. Formica criniventris Wheeler, W.M. 1912c: 90. Replacement name for crinita Wheeler, W.M., above. [Junior primary homonym of crinita Smith, F. 1858b: 13.]