Myrmica rubra
Two workers of the Red garden ant
The Red garden ant ( Myrmica rubra), also known as Red yellow red ant, is one of the most widespread in Central Europe ant species.
- 4.1 Synonyms
- 5.1 Notes and references
Features
The workers are four to six millimeters long, the color is reddish brown, dark brown on the head. The abdomen (gaster ) is slightly darker than the mesosoma and shiny. The head looks elongated. The scape of the antennae is long and thin, the bend near the base is gently and evenly. From the page seen the top of the petiole appears as a gentle dome, which drops steadily and without a step backwards. Petiole and Postpetiolus are smooth in contrast to the otherwise slightly furrowed, wrinkled body surface. The two spines on the propodeum have a broad approach and are shorter than the 0.28 times length of head. The point between the spines is smooth and uniformly bright. There is only one worker caste, but the sizes of individual workers can vary significantly. The males are four to five millimeters long and black, the gaster tip is slightly lighter in color than the rest of the body. The queens are 5 to 7.5 mm long and have a much darker colored mesosoma. On the forehead a shiny triangle is visible. The spines on the propodeum reach a maximum of 0.25 times the length of the head.
In addition to the ordinary queens morphs ( maycrogynous ) there is a microgynous morphs. This much smaller full females caused by genetic predetermination. This is not a unique species, has been suggested for how long. Myrmica microrubra was raised in 1993 in the species status, but speak more recent evidence that speciation is not yet complete.
Like all members of the red ants ( Myrmicinae ) are workers and queens equipped with a poisonous sting, the sting causes unpleasant pain, but usually is not dangerous. There may be a risk of allergy.
Distribution and habitat
The Red Garden ant comes across Europe, from Portugal to Siberia before. In Finland and Sweden, their range extends up to the 67th parallel of latitude on the Atlantic coast to the 70th degree of latitude. Except in the alpine zone it is found everywhere in Central Europe. In the Mediterranean, it occurs only in very humid areas. It settles very different habitats, from lawns and gardens, up to woods and scrubland. Here she prefers moist and semi- shady locations. In high meadows or on strong bushy areas it is often the only ant species. It also occurs in warm deciduous forests and riparian forests. In shady forests as well as in excess of 800 meters, it is displaced by Myrmica ruginodis. They also lack the very dry and sparsely vegetated sites.
As invasive species Myrmica rubra is also known in Quebec (Canada) and in the northeastern United States. Along the Atlantic coast is documented in 2002, more than twenty settlements. It was first discovered there in the year 1906 by William Morton Wheeler Myrmecologists. Probably the species has been introduced with ornamental plants from Europe.
Way of life
The Red garden ant is the strongest national Myrmica species. Nests contain an average of 15 queens and 1000 workers. In extreme cases, can be up to 20,000 workers and 600 queens the number of individuals. It can form super colonies that comprise multiple nests. When nesting diverse sites will be used. Myrmica rubra located in rotten wood, under moss cushions and protection of stones, but also in the open field. At high fouling the mound then reach a considerable size. The animals show very aggressive in nest defense. When foraging amount the workers also bushes and trees.
Reproduction
The reproductives swarm mainly between mid-August and mid-September. They fly to increased Located terrain points to Gipfelbalz. There also the mating takes place. The colony founding done monogyn being added later usually more queens ( "secondary polygyny "). Also intranidale copulation is possible. Mated females can overwinter in the nest and mother are not reproductively active. They often wear their wings yet. They leave the nest the following year in late April and early July.
Nutrition
The Red garden ant is omnivorous and feeds on carrion, insects captured and nectaries. She also eats elaiosomes ( oil-rich appendage to plant seeds ), alluding to the spread of these plants play a role. Real Granivorie not occur. Pronounced is the Trophallaxis with plant suckers such as aphids and scale insects. She attended aphid colonies on trees and bushes around the excreted by the plant suckers take honeydew. In the fight for food sources and aphid colonies, the type proving to be quite successful and can hold its own against garden ants ( Lasius ).
System
Synonyms
From the literature the following synonyms for Myrmica rubra are known:
- Myrmica laevinodis Nylander
- Myrmica laevinodis var bruesi Weber
- Myrmica rubra r . champlaini Forel
- Myrmica longiscapus Curtis
- Myrmica rubra laevinodis Nylander
- Myrmica microrubra Seifert, 1993