''Formica cinerea'' is a species of ant in the family
Formicidae.
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
The ''Near East''; he, המזרח הקרוב; arc, ܕܢܚܐ ܩܪܒ; fa, خاور نزدیک, Xāvar-e nazdik; tr, Yakın Doğu is a geographical term which roughly encompasses a transcontinental region in Western Asia, that was once the hist ...
and in the eastern
Palearctic realm
The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth. It stretches across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa.
The realm consists of several bioregions: the Euro-Sibe ...
. It is lacking in the UK.
Description
''Formica cinerea'' can reach a length of in workers, or in queens. Body is dark gray or silvery, large and agile, with extra large eyes and dark reddish legs.
[Ameisen Forum]
/ref>
This species can be easily confused with ''Formica fusca
''Formica fusca'' is a black-colored ant commonly found throughout Europe as well as parts of Southern Asia and Africa. It has the common names silky ant or dusky ant. The range within the palaearctic region extends from Portugal in the west to J ...
'', '' Formica fuscocinerea'' and ''Formica selysi
''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 ...
''. The distinction of these species is very difficult and it is only possible under the microscope.[
]
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
''Lasius psammophilus'' is a species of ant belonging to the family Formicidae.
It is native to Europe.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q13385528
psammophilus
''Psammophilus'' is a genus of agamid
Agamidae is a family of over 300 specie ...
'' 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.[
]
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
The gyne (, from Greek γυνή, "woman") is the primary reproductive female caste of social insects (especially ants, wasps, and bees of order Hymenoptera, as well as termites). Gynes are those destined to become queens, whereas female workers a ...
or polygyne
The gyne (, from Greek γυνή, "woman") is the primary reproductive female caste of social insects (especially ants, wasps, and bees of order Hymenoptera, as well as termites). Gynes are those destined to become queens, whereas female workers a ...
, 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.[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]
Gallery
File:Formica cinerea 1.JPG, ''Formica cinerea'' carrying a fly
File: Formica cinerea casent0173156 profile 1.jpg, Worker. Museum specimen
File: Formica cinerea casent0173156 head 1.jpg, Detail of head
References
Bibliography
* Csősz S, Markó B, Gallé L 2011
The myrmecofauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Hungary: an updated checklist
''North-Western Journal of Zoology'' 7: 55—62.
* Czechowski W, Markó B 2005
Competition between Formica cinerea Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and co-occurring ant species, with special reference to Formica rufa L.: direct and indirect interferences
''Polish Journal of Ecology'' 53: 467—487.
* Markó B, Czechowski W 2004
Lasius psammophilus Seifert and Formica cinerea Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on sand dunes: conflicts and coexistence
''Annales Zoologici'' 54: 365—378.
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q722655
Hymenoptera of Europe
cinerea
Insects described in 1853