Formica moki

Usually nests under stones in open woods; sometimes under sidewalks or along the sides of buildings. May become a pest by foraging in houses or by tending aphids on cultivated plants. Fierce and aggressive.

Distribution
Northwestern comer of Arizona, southern Nevada, California north to Oregon, and south to Mexico.

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



Biology
Nevada, Wheeler and Wheeler (1986) - Our 8 records from 5 localities are all from the southern part of the state and all in the Pinyon-Juniper Biome. One nest was in the ends of a rotten log (8 cm in diameter) lying on the ground, 3 were under stones, and I was in the slightly decayed buried portion of a log 15 cm in diameter. We noted that the workers were fast and aggressive, that the bite was annoying and that a populous colony produced an invisible cloud of formic acid over a disturbed nest.

Nomenclature

 *  moki. Formica moki Wheeler, W.M. 1906d: 343 (w.) U.S.A. Cole, 1966: 25 (m.). Combination in F. (Neoformica): Wheeler, W.M. 1913f: 558. Junior synonym of occidua: Francoeur, 1973: 254. [Note that moki has seniority over occidua and hence is the valid name; see Smith, D.R. 1979: 1453.] See also: Smith, M.R. 1939f: 582.
 * occidua. Formica rufibarbis var. occidua Wheeler, W.M. 1913f: 517 (w.q.) U.S.A. [F. rufibarbis var. occidua Wheeler, W.M. 1912c: 90. Nomen nudum.] Subspecies of rufibarbis: Creighton, 1950a: 539. Raised to species and stated as senior synonym of moki: Francoeur, 1973: 254 [the latter has priority and hence is the valid name: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1453].