# Rufa Ant

**The red wood ant, builder of huge needle mounds in the forest.**

Formica Rufa belongs to the diverse insect world of the Lapland taiga.

Their massive needle mounds function as thermal reservoirs, allowing this keystone species to become active early in the year despite the harsh boreal climate.

## FAQs

- **What is Formica rufa?**: The red wood ant is a mound-building, eusocial insect known for regulating insect populations within the forest.
- **Where does this species live?**: It preferentially builds its nests on sun-exposed forest edges within the coniferous forests (Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies) of Västerbotten.


## Weitere Informationen

- Illustration: Rufa Formica
- Nature, Taiga & Waters of Västerbotten
- Native to Northern Sweden