 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2011) |
| Formica Temporal range: Eocene-present,
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|---|---|
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| Formica rufa | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Formicini |
| Genus: | Formica Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Type species | |
| Formica rufa[1] | |
| Diversity[2] | |
| 234 species | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Adformica Lomnicki, 1925 | |
Formica is a genus of ants of the subfamily Formicinae, including species commonly known as wood ants, mound ants, thatching ants, and field ants. Formica is the type genus of the Formicidae, and of the subfamily Formicinae.[3] The type species of genus Formica is the European red wood ant Formica rufa.[1] Ants of this genus tend to be between 4 and 8 mm long.[4] Ants belonging to the Formica genus possess a single knob or bump located between their thorax and abdomen. These ants primarily feed on honeydew, a sugary liquid produced by aphids. Formica ants appear to take on a shepherding role with smaller aphids, relocating them to different parts of plants to ensure a continuous food source for the aphids. By doing so, the ants can establish a relatively sustainable honeydew supply for both themselves and their colony.[5]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
AWFormicawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Bolton, B. (2016). "Formica". AntCat. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
AWFormicidaewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Field Ant Facts". Orkin. Archived from the original on 2017-07-16. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
- ^ "Formica Ant". www.insectidentification.org. Retrieved 2023-07-03.