Included Family
- Formicidae – The only family in the superfamily, representing all known ant species.
Habitat
Formicoidea colonize nearly all terrestrial environments:
- Forests, grasslands, steppes, deserts
- Leaf litter, dead wood, under stones, sandy or clay soils
- Human-modified areas (gardens, buildings, sidewalks…)
Biology
- Organized society with castes: queen(s), workers, sometimes soldiers and males
- Communication primarily chemical (pheromones)
- Nesting: in soil, dead wood, cavities, plant structures, sometimes in symbiosis with plants
- Feeding:
- Live or dead prey
- Honeydew from aphids (farmed by some species)
- Seeds, nectar, fungi (in attine ants)
Representative Genera
- Formica – Red ants, commonly found in temperate forests
- Lasius – Black or brown ants, very common in European soils
- Myrmica – Stinging ants, often found in damp meadows
- Camponotus – Large carpenter ants, nesting in wood
- Tetramorium, Solenopsis, Pheidole – Smaller genera, sometimes invasive
Distinctive Features
- Fundamental ecological role: predators, granivores, soil engineers
- Complex interactions with other insects (aphids, myrmecophilous butterflies…)
- Some species are invasive or considered pests
- Exceptionally long lifespan in some queens (up to 30 years)
Formicidae