Slave-making Ant
VU

Slave-making Ant

Formica sanguinea

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formica_sanguinea

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Slave-making Ant faces significant population declines primarily due to habitat fragmentation and loss of suitable woodland and heathland environments. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the delicate ecological balance required for their complex slave-raiding behavior and host species availability. Agricultural intensification and urban development have reduced the mosaic of open and semi-open habitats essential for both F. sanguinea colonies and their target host species.

Threat summary

Habitat

Formica sanguinea inhabits woodland edges, heathlands, and semi-open grasslands with scattered trees, particularly favoring areas with sandy or well-drained soils. The species requires a mosaic habitat structure that supports both their own colonies and the colonies of host species they raid, typically found in temperate regions across Europe and parts of North America.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Slave-making Ant classified as Vulnerable?
Slave-making Ant is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Slave-making Ant faces significant population declines primarily due to habitat fragmentation and loss of suitable woodland and heathland environments. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the delicate ecological balance required for their complex slave-raiding behavior and host species availability. Agricultural intensification and urban development have reduced the mosaic of open and semi-open habitats essential for both F. sanguinea colonies and their target host species.
Where does Slave-making Ant live?
Slave-making Ant occurs in Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Belgium (plus 40 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Slave-making Ant?
The main threats to Slave-making Ant are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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