Editing Formica (section)

{{Short description|Genus of ants}}
{{other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2011}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = [[Eocene]]-present, {{fossilrange|46|0|earliest=48.4}}
| image=A Formica rufa collecting.jpg
| image_caption =  ''[[Formica rufa]]''
| taxon = Formica
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]
| type_species = ''[[Formica rufa]]''<ref name="AWFormica"/>
| type_species_authority = 
| diversity_link = #Species
| diversity = 234 species
| diversity_ref = <ref name="AntCat">{{AntCat|429349|''Formica''|2016|accessdate=25 April 2016}}</ref>
| synonyms =
''Adformica'' <small>Lomnicki, 1925</small><br>
''Coptoformica'' <small>Müller, 1923</small><br>
''Formicina'' <small>Shuckard, 1840</small><br>
''Neoformica'' <small>Wheeler, 1913</small><br>
''Raptiformica'' <small>Forel, 1913</small><br>
''Serviformica'' <small>Forel, 1913</small>
}}
'''''Formica''''' is a [[genus]] of [[ant]]s of the subfamily [[Formicinae]], including species commonly known as '''wood ants''', '''mound ants''', '''thatching ants''', and '''field ants'''. ''Formica'' is the [[type genus]] of the [[Formicidae]], and of the subfamily [[Formicinae]].<ref name="AWFormicidae"/> The [[type species]] of genus ''Formica'' is the European red wood ant ''[[Formica rufa]]''.<ref name="AWFormica"/>  Ants of this genus tend to be between 4 and 8&nbsp;mm long.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.orkin.com/ants/field-ant/|title=Field Ant Facts|website=Orkin|access-date=2016-03-31|archive-date=2017-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716125909/https://www.orkin.com/ants/field-ant/|url-status=live}}</ref> Ants belonging to the ''Formica'' genus possess a single knob or bump located between their thorax and abdomen. These ants primarily feed on honeydew, a sugary liquid produced by aphids. ''Formica'' ants appear to take on a shepherding role with smaller aphids, relocating them to different parts of plants to ensure a continuous food source for the aphids. By doing so, the ants can establish a relatively sustainable honeydew supply for both themselves and their colony.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Formica Ant |url=https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.php?identification=Formica-Ant |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=www.insectidentification.org |language=en-US}}</ref>