Variable Field Ant

Variable Field Ant

Formica pallidefulva

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Washington

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%

11 Verified sightings at Washington
November Best month

About the Variable Field Ant

Formica pallidefulva (a field ant) is a species of ant found in North America. It is a red to dark brown ant with a shiny body, and varies in shade across its range. Colonies of this ant are found in a variety of habitats, where they excavate underground nests with galleries and chambers. In some parts of its range, the nests may be raided by slave-making ants, most notably Formica pergandei and Polyergus montivagus.

The workers of F. pallidefulva are very similar in appearance to those of F. incerta, but are more glossy. They have little pubescence on the mesosoma and the gaster has only a scant covering of short hairs. This ant is very variable in colour. Northern populations are deep brownish-black, but southern types are bright, coppery yellow, and various intermediate colour combinations occur in the central part of its range. Even among the workers of a colony, a considerable degree of variation exists in colouring, but none of these variations seems to be taxonomically significant.

F. pallidefulva is found in eastern North America from southeastern Canada and the eastern United States westwards to the Great Plains and the foothills... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 New York City 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
2 Washington 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Variable Field Ant in Washington?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Field Ant sighting in Washington on a given day, based on 11 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 1121st most-seen of the 1807 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.

When is the best time to see a Variable Field Ant in Washington?

Any time of year

In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Field Ant in Washington on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

Is Washington the best place to see a Variable Field Ant?

Among the best

Of the 2 cities where we can rate Variable Field Ant sightings, Washington ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in New York City (United States, under 5%).

Where does the Variable Field Ant sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Variable Field Ant is recorded against all the insects logged in Washington (11 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.

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