Formica aquilonia

Formica aquilonia
Conservation status

Near Threatened  (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Formicini
Genus: Formica
Species: F. aquilonia
Binomial name
Formica aquilonia
Yarrow, 1955

Formica aquilonia is a species of wood ant of the genus Formica which are widely distributed in Europe and Asia, occurring from Scandinavia in the north to Bulgaria and Italy in the south, and from the UK eastwards through France and Germany to Russia, while they are also found in the coastal areas of the Sea of Okhotsk in eastern Siberia. They live mainly in coniferous forests but they do also occur in some deciduous woodlands.

Distribution in Scotland

Formica aquilonia occurs in the pinewoods of the Caledonian Forest throughout the Highlands. It has also been recorded in the birchwoods of Inverpolly National Nature Reserve and on the Isle of Skye off the west coast.

Conservation status

Formica aquilonia is included on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, where they are classified as Lower Risk. Because of concerns about their future here, Formica aquilonia, the species are the subject of Species Action Plans, as part of the UK's strategy for protecting biological diversity.

Physical characteristics

All the wood ants have a distinctive red and black covering.

See also

External links