Formica archboldi

Formica archboldi
F. archboldi are the darker-colored ants in this image, the reddish-orange one in the center is a Polyergus lucidus queen
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Formicini
Genus:	Formica
Species:	F. archboldi
Binomial name
Formica archboldi Smith, 1944

Formica archboldi is a species of ant in the family Formicidae. ^[1] They are known for their unusual behavior, which includes the collection and storage of Odontomachus (trap-jaw) ant skulls.

Formica archboldi ants store these severed ant heads in their nests. Formica archboldi have odors that are chemically similar to the odors of the trap-jaw ants, which might allow Formica ants to disguise themselves among trap-jaw ants. Formica ants immobilize trap-jaw ants by spraying formic acid, then drag them into their nest, and dismember them. ^{[2] [3]}

Further reading

• Bolton, B. (3 May 2016). "Catalogue of the Ants of the World" (PDF). unpublished communication. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2019-07-02.

References

1. Ward, Philip S.; Blaimer, Bonnie B.; Fisher, Brian L. (2 February 2016). "A revised phylogenetic classification of the ant subfamily Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with resurrection of the genera Colobopsis and Dinomyrmex" . Zootaxa. 4072 (3): 343–357. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4072.3.4. ISSN   1175-5334. PMID   27395929.
2. "Skull-collecting ants slay with acid". Nature. 16 November 2018. Archived from the original on 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
3. Smith, Adrian (16 November 2018). "Predatory behavior of Florida's skull-collecting ant". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2018-11-19.

External links

• Media related to Formica archboldi at Wikimedia Commons