# Western Thatching Ant (*Formica obscuripes*) The Western Thatching Ant is a busy little insect that builds cozy nests from grass and leaves. They work together as a team to gather food and take care of their home. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Western Thatching Ant](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Formica_obscuripes_26474.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Formica_obscuripes_26474.JPG) ## Appearance The Western Thatching Ant is a medium-sized ant, typically dark reddish-brown to black, with a noticeably darker head and abdomen contrasting with a lighter reddish thorax. It has a slightly hairy body and legs. This species is visually distinguished by its often-large, dome-shaped nest mounds made of plant material. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Hymenoptera - **Family:** Formicidae - **Genus:** Formica ## Interesting facts - Wow! Queen ants can live for over 15 years, starting giant new families! - Wow! Their huge nest mounds can sometimes grow taller than a child! - Wow! These ants communicate using invisible scent trails to find food and friends! - Wow! They can move their whole colony to a new home if their nest is damaged! ## Special abilities - **Thatch Architect:** Western Thatching Ant can build impressive dome-shaped nests from plant material that helps insulate their colony from extreme temperatures. - **Acidic Defense:** Western Thatching Ant can spray formic acid from its abdomen that helps them deter predators and paralyze prey. - **Honeydew Farmer:** Western Thatching Ant can farm aphids for their sugary honeydew, which provides essential energy for the colony. - **Colony Protector:** Western Thatching Ant has a strong social organization that helps them rapidly mobilize workers to defend their nest. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 12-18 mm - **Size:** 4-8 mm - **Lifespan:** 200-730 days - **Leg Count:** 6 - **Colony Size:** 10000-50000 ## Diet & Feeding Western Thatching Ants eat sugary plant sap, insects, and other small creatures they find. - **Primary Foods:** Honeydew, Insects, Nectar, Plant sap, Carrion - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Symbiotic with:** Cotton Aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Tends aphids for sugary honeydew, providing protection. - **Eaten by:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — Bears sometimes dig up nests to eat ant larvae and adults. - **Eaten by:** Pygmy Short-horned Lizard (*Phrynosoma douglasii*) — Lizards prey on worker ants they encounter foraging. ## 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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. - [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:** 2/5 · Low Be careful not to disturb their nests, as they might bite if they feel threatened. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western Thatching Ant? 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 Western Thatching Ant's wingspan? 12-18 mm ### How big is Western Thatching Ant? 4-8 mm ### How long does Western Thatching Ant live? 200-730 days ### What does Western Thatching Ant eat? Western Thatching Ants eat sugary plant sap, insects, and other small creatures they find. ### Where is Western Thatching Ant usually found? Grasslands ### How does Western Thatching Ant hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Western Thatching Ant have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rathtrevor-beach-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Allison Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/allison-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## 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*) --- Source: [Western Thatching Ant: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-thatching-ant)