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Formica obscuripes
These Western thatching ants were attacking this Ten-lined June beetle with vigor as they bite and cut there way thru the soft tissue of the beetle to dissemble and collect its juices to take back to their nest, along with all the parts of the beetle. Pic 3 shows two ants leaving the carcass to give some new arrivals some instructions.
Spotted along Meridian Road SE near Yelm, Washington. Next to a mature conifer forest.
Ants typically collect liquid from the carcasses and store it in their crops, returning to the nest and regurgitating the liquid. Western thatching ants also farm honeydew from honeydew-producing insects, including aphids and treehoppers. Honeydew is an important component of their diet, as a significant source of amino acids, carbohydrates, and water. It provides energy for workers, and nutrients for the brood and queen. These ants occasionally also prey on the insects that they tend.
Spotted on Jul 16, 2019
Submitted on Jul 20, 2019
2 Comments
Thank you Lauren. Probably the most common ant in western Washington. At least in mature conifer forest. The size of which their nest can reach is unbelievable! Check out this posting: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/19...
A new ant for me, impressive!