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Formicoxenus nitidulus

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Formicoxenus nitidulus
Formicoxenus nitidulus alate queen
Scientific classification
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F. nitidulus
Binomial name
Formicoxenus nitidulus
(Nylander, 1846)

Formicoxenus nitidulus, or the shining guest ant, is a species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is found in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Habitat

It is known as the shining guest ant because it cohabits with various species of wood ants, including Formica aquilonia and Formica lugubris. The relationships between the Formicoxenus nitidulus and their hosts are poorly known.

Appearance

It is a very small ant, about 2–3 mm long, with a brown-red body, similar in shade to the Formica ants that it nests with, but the body is noticeably shiny. The ants are quickly running on the side of the nest.[1]

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