Formica archboldi

{{use dmy dates|cs1-dates=ly|date=January 2021}}

{{Short description|Species of ant}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Polyergus lucidus with host Formica archboldi.jpg

| image_caption = F. archboldi are the darker-colored ants in this image, the reddish-orange one in the center is a Polyergus lucidus queen

| genus = Formica

| species = archboldi

| authority = Smith, 1944

| display_parents = 2

}}

Formica archboldi is a species of ant in the family Formicidae.{{Cite journal |last=Ward |first=Philip S. |last2=Blaimer |first2=Bonnie B. |last3=Fisher |first3=Brian L. |date=2016-02-02 |title=A revised phylogenetic classification of the ant subfamily Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with resurrection of the genera Colobopsis and Dinomyrmex |url=https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.4072.3.4 |journal=Zootaxa |language=en |volume=4072 |issue=3 |pages=343–357 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4072.3.4 |issn=1175-5334}} They are known for their abnormal behavior, which includes the collection and storage of Odontomachus (trap-jaw) ant skulls.

Formica archboldi ants store these severed ant heads in their nests. The Formica archboldi have odors that are chemically similar to the odors of the trap-jaw ants, which might allow the Formica ants to disguise themselves among the trap-jaw ants. The Formica ants immobilize the trap-jaw ants by spraying formic acid, dragging them into the nest, and dismembering them.{{cite news |author= |title=Skull-collecting ants slay with acid |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07458-y |work=Nature |date=2018-11-16 |access-date=2018-11-19 |archive-date=2020-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923155259/https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-07458-y |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Adrian |date=2018-11-16 |title=Predatory behavior of Florida's skull-collecting ant |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181116110533.htm |work=ScienceDaily |access-date=2018-11-19 }}