Formica spp.
Color: Reddish, black and brown
Size: 4 – 10 mm
Shape: Slim body, Smooth skeleton, Curved antennas
Nutrition: Plant extracts, insects, sugary substances
Habitat: North America
They are active during the day. They usually forage for food during the day.
They can have more than one queen, forming colonies of thousands of workers.
They build their nests in open and sunny areas.
In their defense, they can bite and spray formic acid.
They can cause problems in landscaping as they make mounds when building their nests.
They damage plants because they feed on plant sap,
Their bites are harmless but can cause irritation.
Leaves traces of damage on plants and leaves,
Forms mounds of soil on lawns,
Causes aphids to develop.