Taxonomy
Myrmica ruginodis
Distribution
Status
Conservation status
Not Assessed
Species Biology
Identification
- Small or medium-sized species (body length of workers: 4-6mm)
- Head, thorax and abdomen reddish-brown in colour
- Difficult to separate from other Myrmica species and use of microscopic identification will be required
Diet
Workers will forage on a wide variety of resources including honeydew from aphids, insects and seeds.
Habitat
Occurs in a wide range of habitats including woodlands, bogland margins, moorland, farmland, parks and gardens.
Flight period
Males emerge in July or August, whilst the workers may be seen from March or April until October.
Nesting biology
Nests are typically constructed under stones, in the soil, among grassy tussocks, in mossy clumps or in rotten wood. They usually contain several queens and over 1000 workers. The nests will last between 1-2 years.
Similar species
- Other Myrmica species
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Irish distribution
Commonly found throughout Ireland where it is the commonest Myrmica species. It is more tolerant of cooler microclimates than other Myrmica species and is often the only ant species present in upland moors.
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2023
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