Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Ants (Formicoidea) » Ants (Formicidae) » Formicinae » Formicini » Wood ants, mound ants, & field ants (Formica) » fusca group (Formica fusca group) » Formica montana
Photo#331433
low-land ants on Spirit Mound - Formica montana
Copyright © 2009 Mark Wetmore

low-land ants on Spirit Mound - Formica montana
Spirit Mound Historic Prairie near Vermillion, SE South Dakota, Clay County, South Dakota, USA
August 29, 2009
Size: 5mm long
There are numerous colonies of these in an area near Spirit Mound Creek that may flood in the spring, or at least can become very wet. Mounds are mostly soil granules with some grass stems intermixed. Poking the mound to summon photo subjects gave me the impression that it isn't solid, but maybe layered, and in part suspended from the cord grass stems that it's built around. The largest mound I saw was about 18" wide and 12" high.

Images of this individual: tag all
low-land ants on Spirit Mound - Formica montana low-land ants on Spirit Mound: close view of the mound - Formica montana low-land ants on Spirit Mound - add'l photo showing dorsal bristles - Formica montana low-land ants on Spirit Mound - sign placed near the colony - Formica montana
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Mark Wetmore on 10 September, 2009 - 9:03pm
Last updated 11 September, 2009 - 12:43pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Mark Wetmore, 11 September, 2009 - 12:43pm login or register to post comments

Formica montana
This is the "prairie mound ant", Formica montana, abundant in rich mesic and wet or floodplain prairies. Not visible in the picture are the short, stiff bristles on much of the dorsal surface of this species.

Indeed, the mounds are very airy and chambered, using the grass stalks, and roots that grow out into the mound, for structural support.

Did you notice active tending of honeydew insects on nearby plants? This can happen to the extent of stunting the growth and delaying flowering of the plants sometimes -- almost certainly having effects on plant population and community dynamics voer the long term.
… James C. Trager, 11 September, 2009 - 12:24pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks
Thanks James, I knew we could depend on you to sort out the new ant. We'll look for insect tending behavior. And there are already plans for a small interpretive sign to identify one of the mounds along the path.
I've added a photo that shows the bristles you mention.
… Mark Wetmore, 11 September, 2009 - 3:08pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact