Higher classification Formicoxenus Order Hymenopterans | Family Formicidae Genus Formicoxenus Rank Species | |
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Similar Formicoxenus, Harpagoxenus sublaevis, Leptothorax muscorum, Myrmica lobicornis, Strongylognathus testaceus | ||
Formicoxenus nitidulus
Formicoxenus nitidulus, or the shining guest ant, is a species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is found in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Contents
- Formicoxenus nitidulus
- Formicoxenus nitidulus playing hide and seek with formica ants
- Habitat
- Appearance
- References
Formicoxenus nitidulus playing hide and seek with formica ants
Habitat
It is known as the shining guest ant because it cohabits with various species of wood ants, including Formica aquilonia and Formica lugubris. The relationships between the Formicoxenus nitidulus and their hosts are poorly known.
Appearance
It is a very small ant, about 2–3 mm long, with a brown-red body, similar in shade to the Formica ants that it nests with, but the body is noticeably shiny. The ants are quickly running on the side of the nest.
References
Formicoxenus nitidulus Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA