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Formicidae (Ants)

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Taxonomy

All ants are in the family Formicidae. They join bees, wasps, and sawflies in the order Hymenoptera. We did not identify Bee Atlas ants to genus or species.

Description

Ants are common and usually easily recognized insects. Workers are wingless, but reproductive males and females have wings. The first and sometimes second metasomatic segment(s) have a hump or node that is clearly separated from the rest of the metasoma, often called the "ant bump" (see pictures), which can be used to distinguish winged ants from similar looking wasps.

Nest Structure

Ants are social insects that live in large colonies in a wide range of terrestrial habitats. Many ants are predators of other insects, and Bee Atlas nest holes that were colonized by ants did not have any other insects emerge from them. Each ant nest in a Bee Atlas block is represented by one or two specimens.

Hole Sizes

Ants have been found in most holes in Bee Atlas blocks.

Voltinism

No information at this time.

Activity Period

No information at this time.

References

Triplehorn, C.A and N.F. Johnson. 2005. Borror and DeLong's introduction to the study of insects, 7th ed. Thomson, Brooks/Cole, Australia.

Minnesota Record Map

These data are from the Minnesota Bee Atlas project.

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