Formica coloradensis

This ant nests under logs and stumps or stones, or simply in mounds with thatching. Reproductives were found in nests in July, dealate females were collected in July and August. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Identification
The presence of bristly, short, erect hairs scattered over all surfaces of the tibiae, separate this species from most of the others in the rufa group. Formica coloradensis has a less protruding clypeus, with shallow tentorial pits. The minor worker has a red head, mesosoma and legs. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Distribution
United States: Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico.

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

Habitat
For New Mexico (Mackay and Mackay 2002): Higher elevation forests (1600 - 3500 meters), oak forests, occasionally in meadows or near aspen-spruce forests.

Biology
Nest site selected in areas of moderate to heavy cover. Nest begun in or under a log or stump. Extensive use made of thatching. The finished nest considerably influenced by the size of the object in which it was started but, when this is small, a dome shaped nest results (Creighton, 1940)

Nomenclature

 *  coloradensis. Formica rufa subsp. coloradensis Creighton, 1940a: 1, fig. 1 (w.q.) U.S.A. [First available use of Formica truncicola subsp. integroides var. coloradensis Wheeler, W.M. 1913f: 440; unavailable name.] Subspecies of integroides: Creighton, 1950a: 489. Raised to species: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 81; Mackay, Lowrie, et al. 1988: 111 (in key).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Cole A. C., Jr. 1942. The ants of Utah. American Midland Naturalist 28: 358-388.
 * Cole, A.C. 1936. An annotated list of the ants of Idaho (Hymenoptera; Formicidae). Canadian Entomologist 68(2):34-39
 * Creighton W. S. 1940. A revision of the North American variants of the ant Formica rufa. American Museum Novitates 1055: 1-10.
 * Gregg, R.T. 1963. The Ants of Colorado.
 * Mackay W. P., and E. E. Mackay. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 400 pp.
 * Mackay, W.P. and E. *Mackay, W. P. and E. Mackay. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, NY.
 * Rees D. M., and A. W. Grundmann. 1940. A preliminary list of the ants of Utah. Bulletin of the University of Utah, 31(5): 1-12.
 * Wheeler G. C., and J. Wheeler. 1986. The ants of Nevada. Los Angeles: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, vii + 138 pp.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1913. A revision of the ants of the genus Formica (Linné) Mayr. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 53: 379-565.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1917. The mountain ants of western North America. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 52: 457-569.
 * Yensen, N.P., W.H. Clark and A. Francoeur. 1977. A checklist of Idaho Ants. The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 53:181-187