About Manica rubida (Latreille, 1802)
Manica rubida (Latreille, 1802) shows distinct size differences across its castes. Worker ants of this species reach lengths of 5 to 9 millimetres (0.20 to 0.35 inches), queens measure 9.5 to 13 millimetres (0.37 to 0.51 inches), and males reach 8 to 10 millimetres (0.31 to 0.39 inches). Workers are slender reddish brown ants, typically with a darker head. Their thorax and abdomen are very shiny, and the rear end of the abdomen is darker than the rest of the segment. Queens resemble workers, but are usually slightly darker in overall colour, and are often completely dark. Males are black and glossy. Both queens and workers have a venomous sting that causes very painful stings, though the sting is not dangerous to humans. This species is distributed across Central and Southern Europe, the Near East, and Georgia. These ants favour sunny mountain locations with sparse vegetation, but can also occur in montane forests. They are found at elevations between 400 and 2,200 metres (1,300 and 7,200 feet) above sea level.
