The ''Formica rufa'' group is a subgeneric group within the genus ''
Formica
''Formica'' is a genus of ants of the family Formicidae, 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. The type species of genus ''For ...
'', first proposed by
William Morton Wheeler
William Morton Wheeler (March 19, 1865 – April 19, 1937) was an American entomologist, myrmecologist and Harvard professor.
Biography Early life and education
William Morton Wheeler was born on March 19, 1865, to parents Julius Morton Wheeler ...
. This group contains the mound-building species of ''Formica'' commonly termed "wood ants" or "thatch-mound ants", which build prominent nests consisting of a mound of grass, litter, or conifer needles.
The species ''
Formica rufa
''Formica rufa'', also known as the red wood ant, southern wood ant, or horse ant, is a boreal member of the ''Formica rufa'' group of ants, and is the type species for that group, being described already by Linneaus in the first version of Sys ...
'' or the red wood ant is the
type species
In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...
of this subgroup.
![Mercantour2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Mercantour2.jpg)
This particular group can inhabit open deciduous woodlands, dense pine forests, and even moorland. Workers vary in size, the largest reaching about long. They can produce formic acid in their abdomens and eject it in the air when threatened.
[Dr Timothy Batchelo]
Msu.edu - Southern red wood ant Formica rufa
/ref> The only function of males is to mate in flight with queens.[ Species previously attributed to the ''Microgyna'' group were transferred to the '' F. rufa'' group by the Wheelers in 1986.
]
Colonies
The genetic relationships in ''F. rufa'' group colonies can be complex. Colonies can be polygynous (having multiple queens) and these are often polydomous (having multiple nests per colony). Queens may be singly or multiply mated, and in polygynous colonies, may or may not be related. Colonies are rarely, if ever, independently formed. They either bud off from existing colonies, or are formed by temporary social parasitism of colonies of '' F. fusca'' or other closely related species. A wood ant queen ousts the existing queen, lays eggs, and the ''F. fusca'' workers raise her offspring until the nest is taken over. Some species in the ''F. rufa'' group sometimes form enormous "supercolonies" consisting of hundreds or thousands of nests. The largest documented example is an ''F. yessensis'' colony in Japan covering containing an estimated 306 million workers and 1 million queens.
Member species
European species include:
*''Formica aquilonia
''Formica aquilonia'', also called the Scottish wood ant, is a species of wood ant of the genus ''Formica'' which are widely distributed in Europe and Asia, occurring from Scandinavia in the north to Bulgaria and Italy in the south, and from the ...
'' Yarrow, 1955
*''Formica lugubris
''Formica lugubris'', also known as the hairy wood ant is commonly found in wooded upland areas across northern Eurasia. Colonies construct large thatched mound nests occupied by thousands of workers, and one or more queens. Workers look similar ...
'' Zetterstedt, 1838
*'' Formica paralugubris'' Seifert, 1996
*''Formica polyctena
''Formica polyctena'' is a species of European red wood ant in the genus ''Formica'' and large family Formicidae. The species was first described by Arnold Förster in 1850. The latin species name ''polyctena'' is from Greek and literally mea ...
'' Förster, 1850
*''Formica pratensis
''Formica pratensis'', the black-backed meadow ant, is a species of European red wood ant in the family Formicidae.
Systematic
''Formica pratensis'' is divided into these subspecies:
*''Formica pratensis nuda'' Ruzsky, 1926
*''Formica pratensi ...
'' Retzius, 1783
*''Formica rufa
''Formica rufa'', also known as the red wood ant, southern wood ant, or horse ant, is a boreal member of the ''Formica rufa'' group of ants, and is the type species for that group, being described already by Linneaus in the first version of Sys ...
'' Linnaeus, 1761
North American species include:
*'' Formica ciliata'' Mayr, 1886
*'' Formica coloradensis'' Creighton, 1940
*'' Formica comata'' Wheeler, 1909
*'' Formica criniventris'' Wheeler, 1912
*'' Formica dakotensis'' Emery, 1893
*'' Formica fossaceps'' Buren, 1942
*'' Formica integra'' Nylander, 1856
*'' Formica integroides'' Emery, 1913
*'' Formica laeviceps'' Creighton, 1940
*''Formica microgyna
''Formica'' is a genus of ants of the family Formicidae, 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. The type species of genus ''Fo ...
'' Wheeler, 1903
*'' Formica mucescens'' Wheeler, 1913
*''Formica obscuripes
''Formica obscuripes'' (western thatching ant) is a species of ant in the family Formicidae. It is native to North America. It produces large mounds covered by small pieces of plant material. The number of adult workers per colony may be as hig ...
'' Forel, 1886
*'' Formica obscuriventris'' Mayr, 1970
*'' Formica oreas'' Wheeler, 1903
*'' Formica planipilis'' Creighton, 1940
*'' Formica propinqua'' Creighton, 1940
*''Formica ravida
''Formica ravida'' is a species of ant in the family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to mai ...
'' Creighton, 1940
*'' Formica reflexa'' Buren, 1942
*'' Formica subnitens'' Creighton, 1940
Asian species
*''Formica yessensis
''Formica yessensis'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Formica'', being known from eastern Asia and Japan. This species is especially known for its large colonies
In modern parlance, a colony is a territory subject to a form of foreig ...
''
See also
*''Pissant
A pissant, also seen as piss ant or piss-ant, refers to a specific type of ant. The word is also used as a pejorative noun or adjective, indicating insignificance.
The original ''pissant'' is any of a certain group of large ant species, commonl ...
''
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3748275
rufa species group
Insect species groups