# Formica cinerea

The Formica cinerea, also known as the gray ant, is a small insect that lives in colonies. They work together to find food and build their homes in the ground or in wood.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Urban areas

![Formica cinerea](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Formica_cinerea_1.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Aiwok, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Formica_cinerea_1.JPG)

## Appearance

The Formica cinerea is a medium-sized ant, typically dark gray to grayish-black. Its dull, non-shiny body helps it blend into its sandy, open habitats. It looks similar to other Formica ants but is distinguished by its specific coloration and fine hairs.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Hymenoptera
- **Family:** Formicidae
- **Genus:** Formica

## Interesting facts

- Formica cinerea is super sensitive to ground vibrations, helping them detect danger from afar!
- Some Formica cinerea colonies can have several queens, making their "royal family" huge!
- Their underground nests can be incredibly complex, with many tunnels and chambers!
- They 'farm' tiny insects called aphids for a sugary treat called honeydew!

## Special abilities

- **Mighty Mini-Lifters:** Formica cinerea has incredible strength that helps them carry objects many times their own body weight back to the nest.
- **Chemical Communicators:** Formica cinerea can send complex messages using special scent chemicals called pheromones that help them coordinate tasks.
- **Acidic Defense Spray:** Formica cinerea can squirt formic acid that helps them deter predators and paralyze prey effectively.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 15-30 mm
- **Size:** 3-7 mm
- **Lifespan:** 60-365 days
- **Leg Count:** 6
- **Colony Size:** 50000

## Diet & Feeding

These ants are omnivores, enjoying both tiny insects and the sweet honeydew from aphids!

- **Primary Foods:** small insects, honeydew, plant sap, scraps
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Symbiotic with:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — Ants protect aphids in exchange for sugary honeydew.
- **Eaten by:** [European Green Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-green-woodpecker) (*Picus viridis*) — Woodpeckers are common predators, digging ants from nests.
- **Depends on:** [Sweet Violet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sweet-violet) (*Viola odorata*) — Ants help spread violet seeds, aiding plant dispersal.

## Traits

- [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
- [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
- [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Be careful not to step on ants when playing outside; they are busy working!

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Formica cinerea?

Compare the antennae, waist segments, body proportions and size. Workers, queens and males of the same species can look surprisingly different. Ant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Formica cinerea's wingspan?

15-30 mm

### How big is Formica cinerea?

3-7 mm

### How long does Formica cinerea live?

60-365 days

### What does Formica cinerea eat?

These ants are omnivores, enjoying both tiny insects and the sweet honeydew from aphids!

### Where is Formica cinerea usually found?

Urban areas

### How does Formica cinerea hunt?

Foraging

### How many legs does Formica cinerea have?

6

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Formica cinerea: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/formica-cinerea)