Extant: 3 valid subspecies
Formica pratensis Retzius, 1783 PDF: 75 (w.) NO LOCALITY GIVEN. Afrotropic. AntCat AntWiki HOLTaxonomic history
Forel, 1874 PDF: 52 (q.m.).Subspecies of Formica rufa: Forel, 1874 PDF: 52; Forel, 1892j PDF: 307; Ruzsky, 1905b: 337; Emery, 1909b PDF: 186; Wheeler, 1913i PDF: 428; Forel, 1915d: 57; Emery, 1916a PDF: 256; Emery, 1925d PDF: 254; Ruzsky, 1925b PDF: 43; Karavaiev, 1929d PDF: 217; Stitz, 1939: 341; Gösswald, 1941 PDF: 81; Holgersen, 1942b PDF: 13.Status as species: André, 1882c PDF: 184; Nasonov, 1889: 17; Ruzsky, 1902d PDF: 10; Bondroit, 1912 PDF: 352; Donisthorpe, 1915f: 267; Bondroit, 1917a PDF: 174; Müller, 1923b PDF: 142; Ruzsky, 1926 PDF: 110; Novák & Sadil, 1941 PDF: 105; Van Boven, 1947b PDF: 188; Yarrow, 1955a PDF: 4; Kutter, 1965b PDF: 140; Dlussky, 1967a PDF: 84; Dlussky & Pisarski, 1971 PDF: 177; Tarbinsky, 1976 PDF: 194; Kutter, 1977c: 272; Collingwood, 1979 PDF: 152; Gösswald, 1989: 19; Atanassov & Dlussky, 1992: 272; Seifert, 1992a PDF: 225.Senior synonym of Formica nigricans (and its junior synonyms Formica cordieri, Formica pratensoides, Formica thyssei): Dlussky, 1967a PDF: 84; Kutter, 1977c: 272; Seifert, 1992a PDF: 225.Senior synonym of Formica ciliata: Dlussky & Pisarski, 1971 PDF: 177; Seifert, 1992a PDF: 225.Senior synonym of Formica rufa grouvellei: Seifert, 1996a PDF: 200.Formica nigricans Bondroit, 1912
Formica cordieri Bondroit, 1917
Records
(Map 68): Bulgaria [ Emery 1914 , Agosti and Collingwood 1987a (as Formica pratensis and Formica nigricans ), Atanassov and Dlusskij 1992 , Csősz and Markó 2005 ]; Danubian Plain [ Bobev 1972 (as Formica nigricans ), Wesselinoff 1973 (as Formica nigricans ), 1979, Vatov and Bobev 1976 , Vesselinov 1981 ]; Eastern Danubian Plain: between Balchik and Dobrich [ Otto et al. 1962 (as Formica nigricans )], Shumen ( Gateva 1975 ); Predbalkan [ Wesselinoff 1973 (as Formica nigricans )]; Central Predbalkan: Lovech ( Gateva 1975 ); Stara Planina Mts [ Bobev 1972 (as Formica nigricans ), Wesselinoff 1973 (as Formica nigricans ), 1979, Vatov and Bobev 1976 , Vesselinov 1981 ]; Western Stara Planina Mts: Zgorigrad vill. (Vratsa), Batulia vill. ( Atanassov 1936 ), Murgash peak [ Wesselinoff 1973 (as Formica nigricans )]; Central Stara Planina Mts: Boatin reserve (under Tetevenska baba peak) ( Atanassov 1983 ); Eastern Stara Planina Mts [ Bobev 1972 (as Formica nigricans ), Vatov and Bobev 1976 , Vesselinov 1981 , Wesselinoff 1979 ]; Verila Mt. [ Wesselinoff 1967 , 1973 (as Formica nigricans )]; Viskyar Mt. [ Wesselinoff 1973 (as Formica nigricans )]; Zemen Gorge: Zemen marsh ( Atanassov 1936 ); Sofia Basin: Sofia ( Forel 1892 , Gateva 1975 , Antonova 2005 , Antonova and Penev 2006 , 2008 ), the surroundings of Sofia ( Antonova and Penev 2006 ); Lyulin Mt. ( Atanassov 1936 , Wesselinoff 1967 , 1973 (as Formica nigricans )]; Vitosha Mt. [( Atanassov 1936 , 1952 , Wesselinoff 1967 , 1973 (as Formica nigricans )]: Bistritsa vill. ( Lapeva-Gjonova 2004b ); Plana Mt. [ Wesselinoff 1967 , 1973 (as Formica nigricans )], Tsiganka peak (Pasarel vill.), Bukov dol loc. (Pasarel vill.), Plana vill., Pasarel vill., Manastirishte peak (Plana vill.), Astronomical observatory (between Plana vill. and Dolni Okol vill.), Mechitski kamak peak (Plana vill.) ( Vagalinski and Lapeva-Gjonova in press ); Podbalkan Basins: Rose valley ( Atanassov et al. 1955 ); Sredna Gora Mts [ Bobev 1972 (as Formica nigricans ), 1973 , 1979, Vatov and Bobev 1976 , Vesselinov 1981 , Wesselinoff 1979 ]; Surnena Sredna Gora Mts: Stara Zagora ( Gateva 1975 ); Lozenska Planina Mt. [ Wesselinoff 1967 (as Formica nigricans ), Vassilev and Evtimov 1973 ): north of Pasarel vill. ( Antonova and Penev 2008 ); Sakar-Tundzha district: along Tundzha river [ Wesselinoff 1973 (as Formica nigricans )]; Strandzha Mt. [ Bobev 1972 (as Formica nigricans ), Vatov and Bobev 1976 , Wesselinoff 1979 , Vesselinov 1981 ]; Osogovo-Belasitsa group [ Wesselinoff 1973 (as Formicas nigricans ), Vatov and Bobev 1976 ]; Osogovska Planina Mt.: Hisarlaka ( Atanassov 1936 ); Belasitsa Mt. ( Atanassov 1964 ); Krupnik-Sandanski-Petrich Valley: Petrich ( Atanassov 1964 ), Sandanski ( Gateva 1975 ); Rila Mt. [ Forel 1892 , Otto et al. 1962 (as Formica nigricans ), Bobev 1972 , Wesselinoff 1973 (as Formica nigricans )]: Ibar reserve ( Atanassov 1983 ); Pirin Mt. [ Otto et al. 1962 (as Formica nigricans ), Bobev 1972 (as Formica nigricans ), Wesselinoff 1973 (as Formica nigricans ), Gateva 1975 ]; Mesta Valley: Yakoruda ( Gateva 1975 ); Rhodopi Mts [ Otto et al. 1962 (as Formica nigricans ), Wesselinoff 1973 (as Formica nigricans ), Gateva 1978 , Atanassov 1983 ]; Western Rhodopi Mts [ Bobev 1972 (as Formica nigricans )]: Batak, Peshtera, Shiroka laka vill. [ Bobev 1973 (as Formica nigricans )], Chepelare, Golyam Beglik dam ( Gateva 1975 ), Dospat ( Lapeva-Gjonova in press (a) ); Eastern Rhodopi Mts [ Bobev 1972 (as Formica nigricans ), Vatov and Bobev 1976 ]: Senoklas vill. (Madzharovo) ( Lapeva-Gjonova 2004a ); Northern Black Sea coast: Varna [ Otto et al. 1962 (as Formica nigricans ), Ronketi and Penev 1966 (as Formica cordieri and Formica nigricans ), Gateva 1975 ], Balchik ( Ronketi and Penev 1966 ); Southern Black Sea coast: Burgas ( Forel 1892 ).
Conservation Status:
Lower Risk/near threatened (IUCN).
Crimee fl. Alma, l [[ male ]], 26. V. 1899. Bazenov!); ile de Sachaline (1 [[ queen ]], Suprunenko!).
Formica pratensis, the black-backed meadow ant, is a species of European red wood ant in the family Formicidae.
Formica pratensis is divided into these subspecies:
Some morphs have previously been named as their own species, like F. nigropratensis Betrem 1962[5] and Formica nigricans Emery in 1909, but are now considered junior synonymes of Formica pratensis.[6]
F. pratensis can reach a length of 4.5–9.5 mm (0.18–0.37 in) in workers, slightly larger than in other species such as the more common southern wood ant F. rufa or F. polyctena. Queens reach a size of 9.5–11.3 mm (0.37–0.44 in).[7] The thorax is mainly reddish, while the abdomen and the top of the head are black or dark brown. Generally, this large ant is much darker than other species of wood ants. Their whole bodies are covered with fine hairs.[8] Two large deep black patch are present on the pronotum and mesonotum.[7] The legs, antennae, and the well-developed mouthparts are reddish or dark brown.
Their nests are built from grasses, pine needles and straw, and can reach up to a meter in diameter. One nest can have either a single queen or very few. [7][8] Winged males and females can be present in nests from late April to September, as this species reflects the production of two separate generations.[9] The first generation of ants develop from late April to mid-July, the second generation from mid-August to late September.[8] This species mainly feeds on insects and other small animals, and collects honeydew from aphids.
This species can be found in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Guernsey, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the Ukraine. It is also present in the East Palearctic realm and in the Near East.[10][1] The species is extinct in the UK since 1988.[11][12] In forests weakened by pollution and acid rain in central Europe, red wood ant populations are often endangered for little known reasons which in turn causes further imbalances in predator-prey dynamics and the ecosystem.[11]
This species is characteristic of rough alpine pastures, up to a height of about 1,500 meters. It can be found in dry heathland, meadows and roadsides.[9]
Formica pratensis, the black-backed meadow ant, is a species of European red wood ant in the family Formicidae.
