Formicoxenus provancheri

This species nests under stones, and is a guest in the nests of Myrmica incompleta and Myrmica fracticornis. Apparently it cannot live without its host in the laboratory, although it can be found nesting alone in the field. Sexuals occur in the nests in July and August. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Identification
This species has several erect hairs on the eyes, and the clypeus of the worker is weakly depressed in the middle and is without a medial carina, although several lateral carinae are present. The scapes have numerous suberect hairs. The propodeal spines are well developed, and thickened throughout. The anterior face of the petiole meets the dorsum in a sharp angle, the posterior face is also straight. The dorsum of the postpetiole is nearly completely free of sculpture. The mesosoma has heavy and dense sculpture, con-sisting of punctures interspersed among poorly defined striae. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Distribution
Eastern US south and west to New Mexico.

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



Nomenclature

 *  provancheri. Leptothorax (Leptothorax) provancheri Emery, 1895c: 320 (w.) CANADA. Francoeur, Loiselle & Buschinger, 1985: 377 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1973b: 73 (l.); Buschinger, Francoeur & Fischer, 1981: 8 (k.). Combination in L. (Mychothorax): Emery, 1924d: 262; in Formicoxenus: Francoeur, Loiselle & Buschinger, 1985: 377. Senior synonym of emersoni, hirtipilis: Creighton, 1950a: 279; of glacialis: Cole, 1954d: 241. See also: Wheeler, W.M. 1903c: 229. [Mackay, Lowrie, et al. 1988: 89 (in key) and Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1989a: 323, recombine provancheri in Leptothorax, apparently unaware of the revision by Francoeur et al., whose combination is reaffirmed by Bolton, 1995b: 207.]
 * emersoni. Leptothorax emersoni Wheeler, W.M. 1901a: 433, figs. 2, 3 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. Combination in L. (Mychothorax): Emery, 1924d: 261. Junior synonym of provancheri: Creighton, 1950a: 279. See also: Wheeler, W.M. 1903c: 230.
 * glacialis. Leptothorax emersoni subsp. glacialis Wheeler, W.M. 1907b: 71 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. Subspecies of provancheri: Creighton, 1950a: 280. Junior synonym of provancheri: Cole, 1954d: 241.
 * hirtipilis. Leptothorax emersoni subsp. hirtipilis Wheeler, W.M. 1917a: 515 (w.) CANADA. Junior synonym of provancheri: Creighton, 1950a: 279.