Formica rufibarbis Fabricius

49. Formica rufibarbis Fabricius, 1793 Figs. 160, 168, 197-200.

Formica rufibarbis Fabricius, 1793: 355.

Worker. Head and alitrunk mainly red with variable amounts of dark on promesonotum and hind part of head. Gaster thickly pubescent, dull. Erect hairs numerous on pronotum and normally present on upper margin of scale, absent on gula and occiput. Length: 4.5-7.0 mm.

Queen. Brightly coloured with red predominating. Scutellum usually black, gaster dull. Upper margin of scale and propodeum with erect hairs. Pronotal hairs numerous, extending round side margins to tegulae. Length: 8.5-10.5 mm.

Male. Blackish brown. Scutellum and gaster pubescent and dull. Petiole crest emarginate with sharp side angles and numerous long hairs. Femora mainly dark. Length: 8.5-9.5 mm.

Distribution. Locally common throughout Denmark and Southern Fennoscandia to latitude 62°. - Very local in South England. - Range: Portugal to Western Siberia, Mountains of Middle East toSouth Fennoscandia.

Biology. This is a widely distributed species occurring throughout Europe, nesting in the ground with a single entrance hole or under stones. It is predatory and aggressive and readily attacks other species of ants and insects. New nests are started by single queens alone. Mature colonies are separate but may contain two or three queens with up to 500 or more workers. Alatae fly in late June and July.