Formica Ant

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Image Credit: Elizabeth and Desmond L. taken in Bon Echo Provincial Park, ON

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Image Credit: Arch Baker

Formica Ants do not sting, but they do have a few good defensive tricks up their sleeve thanks to internal chemistry and jagged 'teeth'.

Updated: 8/11/2020; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org

Ants in the Formica genus have only one knob (bump) between the thorax and abdomen. They feed on honeydew, a term for the sweet liquid excrement created by aphids. The Formica Ant actually seems to act as a shepherd to the smaller aphids, moving them to different areas of the plant over time in order to keep the aphids fed. The ant can then have a somewhat sustainable supply of the honeydew for itself and its colony.

This group of ants does not sting, but it can bite using strong mouth parts. These types of ants also spray formic acid from the tips of their abdomens at predators or perceived threats (like human fingers). The formic acid can cause mild to severe irritation depending on the proximity of the target. Colonies form in open grassland or under stones. Professional exterminators should be contacted in the event of an indoor infestation because only the death of the queen can create a permanent destruction of a colony.

General Characteristics
Capability, Shape, Texture/Pattern, Benefits, Dangers

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Species Breakdown

Family: Formicidae [ View More ]

Genus: Formica [ View More ]

Identifying Information
Size, Colors, Descriptors

Scientific Name: Formica spp.

Other Name(s): Black Ant, Silky Ant, Red Ant

Category: Bee, Ant, Wasp and Similar

Size (Adult; Length): 3mm to 12mm (0.12in to 0.47in)

Colors: black; brown; red

Descriptors: small, biting, colony, infest

Relative Size Comparison
Lo: 3mm | Hi: 12mm

Territorial Reach (A-to-Z)
U.S., Canada, and Mexico

Newfoundland and Labrador

Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns.

Territorial Map
U.S., Canada, and Mexico

Alaska

Hawaii

Prince Edward Is.