Formica cinerea

Formica cinerea is a species of ant in the family Formicidae.[2]

Formica cinerea
Formica cinerea alate queen
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Formica
Species:
F. cinerea
Binomial name
Formica cinerea
Mayr, 1853
Synonyms[1]
  • Formica balcanina Petrov & Collingwood, 1993
  • F. cinerea var. imitans Ruzky, 1902
  • F. cinerea var. armenica Ruzky, 1905
  • F. cinerea var. subrufoides Forel, 1913
  • F. cinerea var. cinereoglebaria Kulmaticky, 1922
  • F. cinerea var. iberica Finzi, 1928
  • F. cinerea var. italica Finzi, 1928
  • F. cinerea var. novaki Kratochvil, 1941

Distribution

This species is distributed through the majority of Europe, from Spain to western Siberia and from Scandinavia to the Balkans. Its also present in the Near East and in the eastern Palearctic realm. It is lacking in the UK.[3]

Description

Formica cinerea can reach a length of 4–7 millimetres (0.16–0.28 in) in workers, or 8–11 millimetres (0.31–0.43 in) in queens. Body is dark gray or silvery, large and agile, with extra large eyes and dark reddish legs.[4]

This species can be easily confused with Formica fusca, Formica fuscocinerea and Formica selysi. The distinction of these species is very difficult and it is only possible under the microscope.[4]

Habitat

Underground nest are usually built in dry and sunny sand habitats with scarce vegetation. It is often found together with the ant Lasius psammophilus on sand-dunes. Also occurs in human-constructed open habitats such as river dams, on seaside beaches and occurs up to 1800–2500 m in the mountains.[4]

Biology

This species predates mostly insects, arachnids and other invertebrates, and also feeds on honeydew. It is very aggressive and therefore it is hardly used by other ant species as the host species. As an adaptation to open habitats these ants have good vision and can run very fast. Colonies may either be monogyne or polygyne, the latter frequently develop into vast and very populous polydomous systems. The swarming takes place from June to August, with a winter rest from October to March.[1][4][5]

  • Formica cinerea carrying a fly
  • Worker. Museum specimen
  • Detail of head

References
  1. Seifert, B. (2002). "A taxonomic revision of the Formica cinerea group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". Abhandlungen und Berichte des Naturkundemuseums Görlitz. 74 (2): 245–272.
  2. Biolib
  3. Fauna europaea
  4. Ameisen Forum
  5. Zhu, D., Chapuisat, M., Pamilo, P. (2003): Highly variable social organisation of colonies in the ant Formica cinerea. Hereditas 139: 7–12. doi:10.1111/j.1601-5223.2003.01613.x

Bibliography
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