Bug FAQSilky Field Ant
Formica subsericea · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Formicidae
Also called: SIlky Ant
Workers often become slaves in colonies of the ant genus Polyergus. Their nuptial flights usually happen in July or August.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
This species is commonly called the black field ant.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It lives in the eastern United States and Canada. Workers are often found working as slaves in Polyergus ant colonies.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The species’ mating flights are usually in July and August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range includes the eastern United States and Canada.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It is often confused with the related ant Formica fusca.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 39 of 51 states and DC. Most records: North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Maryland, Tennessee, Mississippi.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Do black field ants bite or sting?
There is no source indicating that they bite or sting people or pets.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Formicidae)
Eastern Black Carpenter AntCamponotus pennsylvanicusCan damage your home
Red Imported Fire AntSolenopsis invictaCan sting
American Winter AntPrenolepis imparis
Argentine AntLinepithema humileNuisance, not dangerous
Immigrant Pavement AntTetramorium immigransCan sting
Odorous House AntTapinoma sessileCan damage your homeSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formica_subsericea
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.