Forest Ants     (Formica neorufibarbis)

This widespread species has abundant populations throughout the continental and mountain coniferous forest of North America. These ants like to nest in dead wood of any type, above or in the ground. Foragers are always active, running on the forst floor, on plants - especially during ewarmer conditions. Their ant piles can growth to 4-5 feet n height, but such piles may be very old. In Europe I encountered such an antpile whose existence had been noted shortly after the farm it was located on was founded nearly 1000 years ago.