Formica cunicularia
Worker from the Rotrückigen slave ant ( Formica cunicularia )
The Rotrückige slave ant ( Formica cunicularia ) from the subfamily of ants scales ( Formicinae ) belongs to the genus of wood ants (Formica ) and there to the sub-genre of slave ants ( Serviformica ).
- 5.1 Synonyms
Features
The workers are 5-7 millimeters in size, the queens of 8 to 10 mm and the males 8 to 10 millimeters. The gaster and head are matt black to gray, the thorax is slightly reddish with varying degrees of redness. This way you can easily with the red-bearded slave ant ( Formica rufibarbis ) or Formica clara confused. However, the thorax of the Gynen this species has more red.
Dissemination
The distribution area of Formica cunicularia extends over large parts of Europe and extends to the south-west of Siberia. In the Alps it occurs up to an altitude of 1800 meters.
The species is widely used to montane planar throughout Germany and an adaptable culture follower. Especially in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania, Saxony -Anhalt, Saxony, Thuringia, northwest Bavaria, southern Hesse and the east of Rhineland-Palatinate Formica cunicularia is widespread and common.
Habitat
The Rotrückige slaves settled xerotherm ant habitats, such as thermophilic, well sunlit meadows, dry meadows and lives in marginal urban areas, such as and under roads, but does not penetrate as far into urban habitats ago as the red-bearded slave ant.
Biology
This ant is relatively scary and volatile, but populous nests can be aggressive in the defense. Formica cunicularia is not territorial. Formica cunicularia serves as a host for various sozialparasitäre ants, such as Formica sanguinea. The development time of the workers is two months. Formica cunicularia holding hibernate from October to March. The reproductives swarm between late June and early August in the early morning.
Nutrition
Mainly zoophag of other insects and arachnids, trophobiotically, but also nektarivor.
Nesting
The nests of this ant are underground and mostly simple nest in soil, without hills. In dense grass growth but also mounds are built. The nests sometimes are located under large stones. The colonies consist of 1000 to 1800 workers and are monogynous, sometimes weakly polygynous. Colonies, the nests are several include unknown. The nest founding claustral done by a single queen, but also in Pleometrose.
System
Formica cunicularia, together with Formica rufibarbis, Formica clara and five other species Formica rufibarbis group within the slave ants.
Synonyms
The following names are junior synonyms of Formica cunicularia:
- Formica fusca var rubescens
- Formica cunicularia fuscoides