Formaliini

Formaliini is a tribe of ants within the subfamily Formicinae. It represents a group of genera that share morphological and ecological traits typical of formicine ants. The circumscription of Formaliini has varied among taxonomic treatments; in some classifications Formica and closely related genera are placed in Formaliini, while other schemes assign the same genera to different tribes within Formicinae. Modern phylogenetic work using molecular data has prompted revisions to Formicinae tribal boundaries, leading to reassignments of several genera and, in some cases, changes to the status of the tribe itself.

Members of Formaliini, like other formicine ants, are generally medium to large in size, with a single petiole and the absence of a sting. They are eusocial, forming colonies that range from small to very large. Nesting habits vary by species and can include soil, leaf litter, wood, or rotting stumps. Their foraging is typically omnivorous, with workers collecting nectar, seeds, insects, and scavenged material. Many species exhibit efficient recruitment to food sources and maintain well-defined foraging trails.

Geographically, Formaliini ants are found primarily in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with a number of species adapted to forested or open habitats. They often play important ecological roles as seed dispersers, predators of other invertebrates, and contributors to soil structure through nest building. The tribe's precise composition and taxonomic status continue to be refined as new morphological and genetic data become available.