Formica

Formica
Temporal range: Eocene-present, 46–0 Ma
Formica rufa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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
Coptoformica Müller, 1923
Formicina Shuckard, 1840
Neoformica Wheeler, 1913
Raptiformica Forel, 1913
Serviformica Forel, 1913

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]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference AWFormica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Bolton, B. (2016). "Formica". AntCat. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference AWFormicidae was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Field Ant Facts". Orkin. Archived from the original on 2017-07-16. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  5. ^ "Formica Ant". www.insectidentification.org. Retrieved 2023-07-03.