Formica fossaceps
This record describes Formica fossaceps (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The bicolored pattern and high, boxy clypeal cross section are shared with the more common and widely distributed F. obscuripes , but F. fossaceps is easily ditinguished from the latter by the near absence of pilosity on the dorsal profile and middle and hind tibial outer surfaces. It also differs by its small, shiny queens. This ant and its congener F. montana are among the few ants strictly characteristic of and nearly endemic to the former tall grass prairie region and habitat of the upper Mississippi drainage.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Formicinae
- Tribe
- Formicini
- Genus
- Formica (Wood ants, mound ants, & field ants)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
mesic and wet mesic tallgrass prairie, oak savanna
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: "Fossaceps" refers to the appearance of having a deep fossa (pit) for the insertion of the antenna, created by the high, trapezoidal cross-section of the clypeus.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Formica fossaceps. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Formica fossaceps (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by James C. Trager
Frequently Asked Questions About Formica fossaceps
What is Formica fossaceps?
Formica fossaceps is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Formica fossaceps?
workers 4.5-6.5 mm, queens 6 mm.
How do you identify Formica fossaceps?
The bicolored pattern and high, boxy clypeal cross section are shared with the more common and widely distributed F. obscuripes , but F. fossaceps is easily ditinguished from the latter by the near absence of pilosity on the dorsal profile and middle and hind tibial outer surfaces. It also differs by its small, shiny queens.
Where is Formica fossaceps found?
Habitat: mesic and wet mesic tallgrass prairie, oak savanna