Formica subsericea
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Formica subsericea, colloquially known as the black field ant, is a species of ant in the genus Formica. It is found in the eastern United States and Canada. Workers of this species are incredibly fast and quite timid. Workers of this species are commonly found working as slaves in Polyergus colonies. Nuptial flights typically occur in July or August. It is often confused with another Formica species, Formica fusca.
The larvae of Microdon megalogaster, a member of the ant fly genus, have been observed in the nests of these ants. The inquiline relationship of these fly larvae is not well understood. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Baltimore | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Boston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Chicago | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Minneapolis [Saint Paul] | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | New York City | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Montreal | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 8 | Toronto | 🇨🇦 Canada |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Silky Field Ant sighting in Baltimore on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 445th most-seen of the 705 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
September
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Silky Field Ant in Baltimore on a given day, against under 5% in October to August, the lowest months.
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Silky Field Ant sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 8 cities where we can rate Silky Field Ant sightings, Baltimore ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Washington (United States, under 5%).
Same family: Formicidae
The closest relatives of the Silky Field Ant that you can see in Baltimore (family Formicidae, Ants) are Chestnut Carpenter Ant (about 10%), Eastern Black Carpenter Ant (about 10%) and Ferruginous Carpenter Ant (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Silky Field Ant is recorded against all the insects logged in Baltimore (8 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
