Formica exsecta
Large notch ant ( Formica exsecta )
The Great Notch ant ( Formica exsecta ) from the subfamily of ants scales ( Formicinae ) belongs to the genus of wood ants (Formica ) and there in the subgenus of the notch ants ( Coptoformica ). The Great Notch ant insect of 2011.
Features
The gaster and the rear half of the head are brown colored black to black. Mesosoma, Stielchenglied and legs usually have a reddish-brown. The two small black spots on pronotum and mesonotum appear indistinctly delimited and are weak to distinct. The most important distinguishing feature for Coptoformica species is considered the strong, central indentation of the back of the head. Workers measure 4.5 to 7.5 mm. The queens are 7.5 to 9.5 millimeters long and the males four to nine millimeters.
Distribution and habitat
This species is gesamtpaläarktisch of Iberia and the British Isles prior to Eastern Siberia. She lives in Europe from the 40th to the 71st degree of latitude in the Southern Alps and comes up to a height of about 2,400 meters before. Preferred habitat is open or lightly shaded areas with often high proportion of grass such as forest clearings or open Magerrasen with single tree groups. Excessively dry steppes be avoided, as well as too rich meadows or riverine floodplains. In central Europe and Scandinavia, the Great Notch ant colonized peat bogs, where it penetrates into the damp, central areas. The domes of the anthill are usually made of finer material than the red wood ant (Formica rufa).
Way of life
The initial colony establishment is done sozialparasitisch in gray black slaves ant ( Formica fusca ) and Formica Lemani. The colonies may be polygynous and split with overpopulation and form branch nests. In this case, colonies may arise from 50 to 300 nests, the largest nest domes can reach a diameter of up to 150 centimeters. F. exsecta is very active nest building and has good vision. As a food serve insects and honeydew. F. exsecta holds from October to March winter dormancy and raves from June to August.