Formica nepticula

Identification
The workers of this species are bicolored, with the head, mesosoma, petiole, and appendages yellowish red, with the gaster medium brown. Erect hairs are abundant on most surfaces, including the dorsum of the head, ventral surface of the head, the scape often has a few scattered, erect hairs, hairs are present on the dorsum of the mesosoma, dorsum of the petiole, and the gaster, hairs the tibiae are suberect. Many of the hairs, especially those on the mesosoma, are blunt-tipped.

The queen is a tiny specimen, much smaller than the largest worker, mostly pale yellowish brown, with numerous hairs on the same surfaces as the workers, the hairs are longer, and not noticeably blunt-tipped. The scape has a few, scattered, erect hairs.

This species could be confused with Formica knighti. To it differs in that the dorsum of the gaster is punctate, but is weakly to moderately shining, not dull as in F. knighti. It does not have the abundant erect an suberect hairs on the scapes and tibiae that are found in Formica impexa and Formica microgyna.

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 current host is.

Nomenclature

 *  nepticula. Formica nepticula Wheeler, W.M. 1905c: 270 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. See also: Wheeler, W.M. 1913f: 475.