Editing Formica rufibarbis

{{short description|Species of ant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Speciesbox
|image=Formica rufibarbis casent0173870 profile 1.jpg
|image_caption=''Formica rufibarbis'' worker
|genus=Formica
|species=rufibarbis
|authority=[[Johan Christian Fabricius|Fabricius]], 1793

}}

'''''Formica rufibarbis''''' is a European [[Formicinae|formicine]] [[ant]] of the [[Formica fusca|''Formica fusca'' group]]. In the classification by [[Auguste Forel]], it is treated in the [[subgenus]] ''[[Serviformica]]''. ''F. rufibarbis'' is subject to a [[Biodiversity action plan#Species plan|Species Action Plan]] (SAP) in [[England]], where it is known from only two locations, although it is not considered to be at risk on continental Europe.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

==Taxonomy==
The name ''Formica rufibarbis'' was first given to this ant by [[Sir John Lubbock|Lord Avebury]] in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] in his 1881 work ''Ants, Bees and Wasps'' although the species had been earlier misidentified as ''[[Formica cunicularia|F. cunicularia]]'' by [[Frederick Smith (entomologist)|Frederick Smith]] in 1851.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

==Description==
The Red-barbed Ant is readily identified by its relatively large size and distinctive coloration of a blackish head and thorax, contrasting with a light reddish thorax. Small dark workers do occur and may be mistaken for ''[[Formica fusca|F. fusca]]'', although there is always a degree of colouration between thorax and abdomen.<ref name=Beavis>{{cite journal|last=Beavis|first=Ian C|title=A Revised List of the Bees, Wasps and Ants of Scilly|journal=Isles of Scilly Bird and Natural History Review 2012|year=2013|pages=171–182}}</ref> Workers can also be confused with ''F. cunicularia'' which does not have hairs on the thorax.<ref name=rdb>{{cite book|last=Spalding|first=Adrian|title=Red Data Book for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly'':'' Ants|year=2009|publisher=Croceago Press|pages=296–300|edition=Second|authorlink=Ants}}</ref>

==Life cycle==
Colonies usually contain one to three queens, although the occurrence of gynaecoid or egg laying workers has also been recorded. Queens found colonies in the same manner as other ants from the ''Formica fusca'' group. Eggs are first laid early in the new year, and colonies reach a maximum size of around 500 workers.
[[Alate]]s emerge in late June to early July.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

==Distribution and habitat==
It is locally common throughout continental Europe, and ranges from [[Portugal]] to [[Siberia|Western Siberia]]. it nests in short, lowland grass and heather or maritime heath overlying loose or sandy soils.<ref name=clark>{{cite book|title=Cornwall Biodiversity Volume 3: Actions Plans 2004 - Red Barbed Ant|year=2004|publisher=Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative|location=Truro|editor=Nick Clark and Alan Bean}}</ref>

===Status in Britain===
In Britain, the species has always been scarce, confined to [[heath (habitat)|heaths]] in [[Surrey]] and the [[Isles of Scilly]], where it is sometimes known as the "St Martin's Ant". In the 1927 edition of ''British Ants: their life histories and classification'', [[Horace Donisthorpe|Donisthorpe]] gives its distribution as being confined to [[Ripley, Surrey|Ripley]], [[Chobham Common|Chobham]], [[Reigate]] and [[Weybridge]]. In 2004 there were only four nests in Surrey. It was once found in [[Cornwall]] at [[Whitsand Bay]] but has not been recorded since 1907. In the Isles of Scilly it is found on the islands of [[Eastern Isles#Great Ganilly|Great Ganilly]], [[Eastern Isles#Nornour|Nornour]], [[St Martin's, Isles of Scilly|St Martin's]] and [[Teän]].<ref name=rdb/>
As of 2015, ''F. rufibarbis'' is now confined to one known colony on mainland Britain, nesting on the edge of a Heath, the location is kept a closely guarded secret due to the risk posed by curious members of the public. However the nest is also at risk from ''F. sanguinea'', a slavemaker ant, which currently nests only a few hundred meters away.

==Behaviour==
''F. rufibarbis'' nests completely within the ground, usually in sandy banks, and nest chambers situated about a foot beneath the surface are accessible only from a single entrance. This makes the locating of colonies very difficult, so it is possible that the small numbers of recorded colonies constitute an under-representation. Workers forage singly and Donisthorpe observed: "The workers are very audacious and will even endeavour to rob ''[[Formica rufa|F. rufa]]'' of its prey – holding on and pulling – and the moment the ''rufa'' lets go, to get a better grip, or to attack the ''rufibarbis'', the latter swiftly decamps with the prize." Workers also possess a remarkable sense of sight, and will proceed to their nest entrance in a dead straight line even if major obstacles are placed to disrupt their path. Donisthorpe describes this phenomenon thus: "On July 12, 1913, having observed several ''rufibarbis'' workers running about on a path near a sandy bank at [[Weybridge]], I endeavoured to find their nest, and commenced to pull up handfuls of herbage on the top of the bank, which I let fall on the slope. I then saw a worker approaching with a fly in its jaws and start to mount the bank, and as the scattered herbage was directly in its way, I feared the ant might be diverted from its nest, but when it reached the obstacle it never hesitated for a moment, but running straight over it in a direct line, entered its nest on the top of the bank, which I was thus enabled to find."{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

==Predation==
Like other ''Serviformica'', this species is subject to raids by dulotic species such as ''[[Formica sanguinea]]'' and ''[[Polyergus rufescens]]'' where their ranges coalesce. In Britain this only takes place at Chobham in the case of the former (the latter does not occur in the country).{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

==See also==
* [[List of ants of Great Britain]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commonscat-inline|Formica rufibarbis|''Formica rufibarbis''}}
* [http://www.antblog.co.uk/species/formicarufibarbis.htm ''Formica rufibarbis'' species profile on AntBlog]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1858747}}

[[Category:Formica|rufibarbis]]
[[Category:Hymenoptera of Europe]]
[[Category:Insects described in 1793]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius]]