Formica puberula

This species nests under stones and logs. It enslaves Formica altipetens, Formica  bradleyi,  Formica  densiventris, Formica  fusca, Formica  hewitti, Formica  lasioides, Formica  lepida, Formica  montana, Formica  neoclara, Formica  neorufibarbis, Formica nitidiventris (=Formica pallidefulva)  and Formica  subpolita. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Identification
The scape of this species has appressed to suberect, relatively coarse hairs, giving it a slight bristly appearance. The underside of the head has at least a pair of hairs. The erect hairs on the gaster are about 0.1 mm long, and are of about the same form and density as those on the pronotum. Most hairs have sharp tips. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Distribution
Western North America.

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



Habitat
In New Mexico (Mackay and Mackay 2002) - Sagebrush scrub and grasslands through mixed forests into ponderosa pine and aspen forests. This species also occurs in urban habitats.

Biology
This species is a member of a group of Formica species that were formerly placed in the subgenus Raptiformica. All species are facultative slavemakers, i.e., species which usually or often have slaves but can get along without them. The colony-founding female forces her way into a small colony of another species of Formica, somehow gets rid of its queen and workers and appropriates its nest and brood. The workers emerging from this brood accept the intruding queen as their own. The enslaved species belong to the Formica neogagates, fusca, and pallidefulva species groups. When the workers of the slave-making species have become numerous enough, they start raiding for more slaves.

Nevada, Wheeler and Wheeler (1986) - We have 11 records from 6 localities widely scattered north of the Hot Desert; 4,500-8,200 ft. Seven records are from the Coniferous Forest Biome, usually at the edge of mountain meadows; 2 are from disturbed habitats. We have descriptions of 2 nests: (1) under 2 stones 13 cm apart; (2) surmounted by a pile of excavated soil 22 x 28 cm around the base of an aspen tree, with the entrance near the trunk. We found Formica lasioides as slaves in 2 nests and Formica subsericea in 1.

Fungi
This species is a host for the ectoparastic fungus Laboulbenia formicarum (Espadaler & Santamaria, 2012).

Nomenclature

 *  puberula. Formica sanguinea subsp. puberula Emery, 1893i: 648 (w.) U.S.A. Wheeler, W.M. 1913f: 413 (q.m.). Combination in F. (Raptiformica): Emery, 1925b: 260. Raised to species: Creighton, 1950a: 468. Junior synonym of subintegra: Wilson & Brown, 1955: 120. Revived from synonymy: Buren, 1968a: 30.