Formica fusca Linne

43. Formica fusca Linne, 1758

Figs. 159,165,176-179.

Formica fusca Linne, 1758:580; Yarrow, 1954:228 (redescription).

Worker. Black, legs brownish. Gula, occiput, mid femora and promesonotum without standing hairs - occasionally one or two weak pronotal hairs. Pubescent hairs on gaster longer than their interspace width. Frons with fine microsculpture. Length: 4.5-7.0 mm.

Queen. Colour and sculpture as worker. Pronotal hairs restricted to anterior part; underside of mid and hind femora without long hairs or those restricted to proximal part only. Scutellum sculptured, not conspicuously shining. Length: 7.0-9.5 mm.

Male. Black, appendages yellowish to brownish. Scale with dorsal fringe of very fine short hairs but no outstanding long hairs. Gaster with short adpressed pubescence. Length: 8.0-9.5 mm.

Distribution. Common throughout Denmark and Southern Fennoscandia to about latitude 63° in Finland. - Common in South England, Wales and Southwest Ireland, local in North England and Scotland. - Range: whole palaearctic region from Portugal to Japan, Italy to Central Fennoscandia.

Biology. This is the common black ant of Europe. It nests variously in banks, under stones and in tree stumps along hedgerows and woodland borders. Workers are timid, fast moving and forage singly, predating small insects but also feeding on extra floral nectaries and on aphid honeydew. Colonies are usually small with up to 500 workers and one or a few queens present. Alatae are developed in June and July and fly off the nests in July and early August.