Atmospheric formic acid from formicine ants: a preliminary assessment

Formic acid is a ubiquitous constituent of the atmospheric gas and of precipitation, but its sources and their fluxes are poorly understood. One source not previously examined, emissions from formicine ants, is assessed in this work, and it is shown that, except in urban areas and particularly in tropical areas, these ants may be a significant source of the formic acid found in some parts of the continental troposphere. This process could thus provide a new example of a potentially strong interaction linking the biosphere and the atmosphere.