3 replies to this topic

[AaronG]

What is the relationship between the Nearctic and Palearctic members of the Formica rufa group?

 

Is the proposed relationship based on morphology and habit of mound building?

 

Have genetic tests been used to confirm the relationship?

 

Reviewing background literature leads me to believe that it is probably assumed, by most, that there was dispersal via beringia, during the pleistocene. So the "mound building syndrome" evolved once and spread, similar to the army ant syndrome. However, I'm aware that the nest weaving ant syndrome is known to have been converged upon multiple times.

 

 

Thanks!

[T.C.]

haha, this isn't some sort of school question is it?

[AnthonyP163]

I think that they just didn't have a place to put their dirt/wood shavings. So they just made a big hill. I'm guessing they then realized that this big hill they have is a large pile to dig and nest in.

[Batspiderfish]

I admittedly do not know much about this subject, but there are a lot of rufa-group Formica in North America which barely use thatch, as well as many that use a lot of it. Where I'm from, Formica glacialis (from the fusca group) makes much larger earth mounds than some of the modest rufa-group nests I've seen.

Edited by Batspiderfish, December 6 2016 - 7:56 AM.