Taxonomy
Formica lemani
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Not Assessed
Species Biology
Identification
- Medium-sized species (body-length of workers 4.5-7mm)
- Head, thorax and abdomen dark brown/black
- Difficult to separate from Formica fusca, with microscopic examination being required in most cases
Diet
Workers primarily forage on other insect species, but will also take honeydew from aphids.
Habitat
Occurs in a wide range of habitats including brownfield sites, open woodland, heathland, bogs and dunes.
Flight period
Males emerge and are on the wing between June-August. Workers can be found during most months of the year, particularly between March-October.
Nesting biology
Nests in a wide variety of settings including under stones, in sandy or peaty banks and around loose tree bark. Nests typically contain a single queen and several hundred workers, with males emerging in early summer.
Similar species
- Formica fusca
- Other black ant species
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Irish distribution
Found throughout Ireland and is often common. It is more frequent than F. fusca, particularly so in northern areas.
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
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