ИСТИНА

Ants of the Formica rufibarbis group have the melanin-based ornaments on their heads and thorax parts. It is known that separate coloring elements, such as contrast of pigmentation bordering line on the head, suggest as a systematic trait in this group. Types of insects’ coloring often appear to be a marker of important biological features. A number of data show that the variability of coloring pattern in this group may have an adaptive character. However the pigmentation has not been sufficiently studied yet. The intercolonial coloring variability of the F. rufibarbis group has not been studied at all. In this study we have analyzed the variability of ants’ coloring of the F. rufibarbis group counting 31 colonies sample of which were collected on the territory of the Karlsruhe (Germany). Based on the extensive analysis of the discrete coloring variation on different body parts we suggest a unified scheme of coloring variability description for F. rufibarbis group. It has been revealed that Formica rufibarbis differs in coloring types from Formica cunicularia. A significant phenotypical differentiation of F. rufibarbis colonies has been discovered. The coloring variety caused by composition of pigmentary spots and strips. When merging they give dark coloring. In an opposite case the ant looks light. We have found colonies with prevalence of dark (in 70% of cases) and light (in 30% cases) workers. The light-colored colonies differ according to high and low varieties of coloring variations. The possible morphological and ecological reasons of coloring variability of the above mentioned observed variability are discussed.