Workers are about 4–6 mm.
Fine-art photographic collection
Myrmica rubra
A red European ant that thrives in damp ground and defends itself with a sting.
About this species
European fire ant
Myrmica rubra(Linnaeus, 1758)
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Myrmica rubra is a common European ant of moist habitats. Colonies often contain several queens and can reach high densities in gardens, grassland and woodland edge.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Hymenoptera · Formicidae · Myrmica
Source checked · checked 2026-07-15
Europe and introduced North AmericaBroad documented localities — not a complete range map.
Native across much of Europe and northern Asia; introduced and invasive in parts of North America.
Damp grassland, gardens, woodland edge, marsh margins and rotting wood.
Diurnal and nocturnal in warm weather, especially in moist conditions.
Honeydew, nectar, carrion and small arthropods.
Colonies commonly contain multiple queens and several nesting sites.
What makes this species remarkable?
Workers have a functional sting and defend disturbed nests rapidly.
The species can form dense invasive populations where introduced.
Caterpillars of some blue butterflies exploit chemical and acoustic signals to live inside Myrmica nests.
Sources and scientific references
More photographs
24