Red wood ants in North America

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Red wood ants of the Formica rufa group are present in many conifer and mixed-conifer forests of northern Europe and Asia. These six species are part of the Formica s. str. subgenus and build large above-ground organic mounds. In contrast, the taxonomic usage of the F. rufa group in North America seems to have a much broader meaning than in Europe and Asia. Twenty-four species and subspecies are placed in the North American F. rufa group, but only a few build large mounds. The authors’ survey of the literature indicates that very little is known on the abundance and distribution of North American red wood ants, under what forest conditions they are found, and what role they may have in forest ecosystems. Environmental conditions (temperature, moisture), disturbances (fire, human), predation, and competition with other ant species are all possible factors that may explain why red wood ants predominate in many Eurasian but not in North American forests. Detailed studies on the distribution and ecology of red wood ants in North America are needed, especially the interaction and possible competition from carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.) in limiting their distribution. Finally, studies on the taxonomic relationships of the North American F. rufa group to the Eurasian Formica s. str. subgenus are needed to help understand the origin and development of red wood ants in North America.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology: Invertebrates