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The Role of Red Wood Ants (Formica rufa Species Group) in Central European Forest Ecosystems—A Literature Review
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The Role of Red Wood Ants (Formica rufa Species Group) in Central European Forest Ecosystems—A Literature Review
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Journal Article
The Role of Red Wood Ants (Formica rufa Species Group) in Central European Forest Ecosystems—A Literature Review
2025
Overview
Red wood ants (RWA), belonging to the Formica rufa species group, play a crucial and fascinating role in Central Europe’s forest ecosystems. They have a high variety of effects, which they exert around their nests. Their generalist feeding on prey in the canopies of trees lowers the frequency of defoliator outbreaks, as well as increases local biodiversity. Nearly half of their diverse diet is insects, including species considered harmful by foresters. They also have a mutualistic relation with honeydew-producing aphids and planthoppers, which connection has unclear effects on the forests. The habit of RWAs building nests could also positively influence soil composition, due to its structure and high amount of organic matter, which could potentially benefit tree growth. RWAs are also known to enhance the species richness of forests by supporting various myrmecophilous species associated with them. In this study, we review the role of RWAs in forest protection, drawing on the literature focusing on Hungary and Central Europe.
