Black bog ant  (Formica candida)

Biology

The nest, which is small and conical in shape, is made from Sphagnum moss and grasses, and is typically located in wet boggy areas (3), often inside tussocks of purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea) (6). The nests often become saturated or submerged for short periods, despite being built above the water level of the bog (3). Nests typically contain a single queen and up to 1000 workers (3). In many species of ant, the pupae are surrounded by a cocoon in order to prevent desiccation; black bog ant pupae often lack cocoons, perhaps because the nest is so moist that desiccation is unlikely (3).

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