Appearance
Workers can measure 8–10 mm in length. They have large mandibles and like many other ant species they are able to dispense formic acid from their abdomens as a defence. Formic acid was first extracted in 1671 by the English naturalist John Ray by distilling a large number of crushed ants of this species.
Behavior
''F. rufa'' is highly polygynous and often re-adopts post-nuptial queens from its own mother colony, leading to old, multi gallery nests which may contain well over a hundred egg-producing females. These colonies can often measure several metres in height and diameter. ''Formica rufa'' is aggressively territorial, and will often attack and remove other ant species from the area. Nuptial flights take place during the springtime and are often marked by savage battles between neighbouring colonies as territorial boundaries are re-established.Workers show considerable polymorphism and it has been noted that larger individuals forage further away from the nest.
The species can also establish nests using the mechanism of temporary social parasitism, the hosts being species of the ''Formica fusca'' group, notably ''F. fusca'' and ''F. lemani'', although incipient ''F. rufa'' colonies have also been recorded from nests of ''F. glebaria'', ''F. cunnicularia'' and similar species including the ''Lasius'' genus.
Food
A common diet for a wood ant colony is invertebrates found around the nest, particularly aphids harvested from the surrounding trees, although they are voracious scavengers. Nests of these ants are large, conspicuous, dome-shaped edifices, usually situated in woodland clearings, where the sun's rays can reach them. ''F. rufa'' is commonly used in forestry and is often introduced into an area as a form of pest management.References:
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