Fourmi mineuse
Formica cunicularia
Formica cunicularia is a species of ant found all over Europe. They are especially common in western Europe and southern England, but they can be found from southern Scandinavia to northern Africa and from Portugal to the Urals.
44
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formica_cunicularia
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Formicidae
Genus
Formica
Fourmi mineuse belongs to the family Formicidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Formica cunicularia is a species of ant found all over Europe. They are especially common in western Europe and southern England, but they can be found from southern Scandinavia to northern Africa and from Portugal to the Urals. In England, Donisthorpe records the species as having occurred as far north as Bewdley in Worcestershire. In Formica cunicularia, the worker is an ashy grey black color and is usually 4.0–6.5 mm long. The males are found to have a uniformly dark body and are 8.0–9.0 mm long. The queen is yellowish red to dark black and is 7.5–9.0 mm.
Formica cunicularia faces significant population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its European range. Climate change and the use of pesticides in agricultural areas further threaten remaining populations by altering suitable nesting sites and reducing prey availability.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
F. cunicularia has habitat ranging from open to relatively cluttered to visually rich. In Finland, Albrecht found that all nests were small, with single entrances in dry, hot environments with low vegetation. They nest under stones or in small earth mounds. Nests are usually separate, containing one queen. F. cunicularia, unlike most other Formica fusca-group species, can form noticeable hillocks...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Formica cunicularia faces significant population declines primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its European range. Climate change and the use of pesticides in agricultural areas further threaten remaining populations by altering suitable nesting sites and reducing prey availability.
Agricultural intensification and habitat conversion
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Climate change altering suitable habitat conditions
Loss of traditional extensive grazing systems
Pesticide use in agricultural landscapes
Found in 44 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Fourmi mineuse (Formica cunicularia). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/fourmi-mineuse