Forum Entomologi Italiani

Ciao a tutti. Non sono riuscito a determinare questa formica.
Secondo me è del genere FORMICA, ma non sono riuscito ad capire bene.
Gli ocelli sono presenti, le antenne sono composte da 12 segmenti, il peziolo è singolo.
Nell' epinoto sono presenti perimetralmente delle piccole protuberanze come degli speroncini.
In cerchio rosso non capisco se sia il pungiglione retratto o altra cosa (si vede anche nella foto del profilo buttando lo sguardo in mezzo alle zampette). Al microscopio si vede un fascio di setoline.
Se qualcuno ci capisce qualcosa.... grazie anticipatamente
ciao

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For me it is a member of the genus Lasius not Formica. Microocelli in workers of Lasius are usually absent but in some specimens present.

what are the principal carapters about lasius gen ?
thanks

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Qualcuno azzarda la specie? (lasius niger?)
ciao grazie

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I attached fragment of the key to genera identification of Formicidae by Seifert (2007) in German. Generally Lasius and Formica well differ in size. It is difficult to identify black Lasius species using only photo. They differ in subtle characters, especially setation of clypeus, number of erect setae on antennal scapus and hind tibiae, and number of setae on head and close to propodeal spiracle.

thanks for attachement. what kind of book is it? it could be very interesting for me.... if i had it i could work better for ants determinatin. Can you give me the title and autor of that?
Is there an italian or english version too?
Many thanks

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For me it is the best book on European Formicidae but with keys only to species from North and Central Europa:
Bernhard Seifert, 2007 (2nd edition). Die Ameisen Mittel- und Nordeuropas. Lutra Verlags, 368 pp.

Still available in internet shops (here note from Goecke & Evers http://www.insecta.de/shop/openstore.htm):

Seifert, B.: Die Ameisen Mittel- und Nordeuropas.
368 S., zahlr. Farbfotos, mit Bestimmungstabellen incl. vieler Strichzeichnungen.
2007. 15 x 21,5 cm. hardcover.
(5257)
incl.7% MwSt + zzgl. Versandkosten
EUR 39.00

uoa amaizing Lech

we have to talk. I was starting to think to be one of the last mirmecologists but...

Even tough i suppose tthat the ant in the pictures above is a Formica rufescensis major...or minor