Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 56

The Red-barbed Ant, known as Formica rufibarbis, is a large ant species with blackish head and thorax contrasting with a reddish thorax. It nests in the ground, usually in sandy banks, and colonies can contain one to three queens. It has a wide distribution throughout continental Europe and nests in short, lowland grass and heather. The workers have a remarkable sense of sight and forage alone. This species is subject to raids by other ant species in areas where their ranges overlap.