Jump to content

  • Chat
  •  
  •  

Welcome to Formiculture.com!

This is a website for anyone interested in Myrmecology and all aspects of finding, keeping, and studying ants. The site and forum are free to use. Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation points to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!

Photo

Queen from central Europe on June 2nd 2020

queen formica id parasitic europe red

  • Please log in to reply
10 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Quizzie - Posted June 2 2020 - 1:30 PM

Quizzie

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts
Hi! Could someone please help me identify this queen?
I'm guessing she's a parasitic queen from the Formica rufa group.
 
Location of collection: Czech Republic
Date of collection: August 2nd 2020
Habitat of collection: park on city edge
Length: about 12 mm
Coloration: black with a red underside
Behavior: active, aggressive, fast and strong
 
X5ABvCE.jpg

Edited by Quizzie, June 2 2020 - 1:35 PM.

  • Antennal_Scrobe likes this

Formica cinerea (queen of 2018)

Formica rufibarbis (queen of 2019)

Formica pratensis? (queen of 2020)


#2 Offline Antkid12 - Posted June 2 2020 - 1:30 PM

Antkid12

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 1,009 posts
  • LocationFairfax, Virginia

 Yup! looks like a Formica rufa group queen, nice catch!


Edited by Antkid12, June 2 2020 - 1:33 PM.

  • Antennal_Scrobe likes this

Ants I have: Tapinoma sessile(2 queen colony). RED MORPH Camponotus neacticus(now has pupae!), Tetramorium immigrans (x3), Aphaenogaster sp, Temnothorax sp, Brachymyrmex sp.   possibly infertile   :(,  Ponera pennsylvanica, and Pheidole morrisi!  :yahoo: 

 

Other insects: Polistes sp. Queen

                    

Ants I need: Pheidole sp., Trachymyrmex sp., Crematogaster cerasi , Dorymyrmex sp. Most wanted: Pheidole morrisii

 

                    

                   

 

 


#3 Offline Quizzie - Posted June 2 2020 - 1:39 PM

Quizzie

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts

 Yup! looks like a Formica rufa group queen, nice catch!

 

Awesome, thank you!

It's a bit funny... last year I accidentally caught a Formica rufa group queen on June 3rd, just one day later than this year. Unfortunately she died and I've spent the whole summer looking for another one, without any luck.


Formica cinerea (queen of 2018)

Formica rufibarbis (queen of 2019)

Formica pratensis? (queen of 2020)


#4 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted June 4 2020 - 2:55 PM

Antennal_Scrobe

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 933 posts
  • LocationMilwaukee, Wisconsin

Formica rufa and F. polyctena are protected species in the EU. I'm not sure about other close relatives, but I think you could potentially get in trouble for keeping this queen depending on the species.


Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis


#5 Offline Quizzie - Posted June 5 2020 - 10:36 PM

Quizzie

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts

Formica rufa and F. polyctena are protected species in the EU. I'm not sure about other close relatives, but I think you could potentially get in trouble for keeping this queen depending on the species.

 

Yep, she's definitely protected. In fact I think all Formica species are protected in the Czech republic.

 

But I can't imagine authorities ever finding out about it. And morally I think I'm fine with it too. Formica rufa group colonies are pretty common around here. And like 99% of all queens in nature don't make it anyway, right?


Formica cinerea (queen of 2018)

Formica rufibarbis (queen of 2019)

Formica pratensis? (queen of 2020)


#6 Offline Barristan - Posted June 6 2020 - 2:10 AM

Barristan

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 884 posts
  • LocationBindlach, Bavaria, Germany

Formica rufa and F. polyctena are protected species in the EU. I'm not sure about other close relatives, but I think you could potentially get in trouble for keeping this queen depending on the species.

 

There is no general EU law which protects them.

 

Every country has its own laws. In some countries (for example Austria) it is different depending on the state you are in.

 

In the UK for example Formica rufa aren't protected and you may catch and keep them.


Edited by Barristan, June 6 2020 - 2:10 AM.

  • Antennal_Scrobe likes this

#7 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted June 6 2020 - 8:33 AM

Antennal_Scrobe

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 933 posts
  • LocationMilwaukee, Wisconsin

 

Formica rufa and F. polyctena are protected species in the EU. I'm not sure about other close relatives, but I think you could potentially get in trouble for keeping this queen depending on the species.

 

Yep, she's definitely protected. In fact I think all Formica species are protected in the Czech republic.

 

But I can't imagine authorities ever finding out about it. And morally I think I'm fine with it too. Formica rufa group colonies are pretty common around here. And like 99% of all queens in nature don't make it anyway, right?

 

I still wouldn't. Formica rufa are social parasites, so you will need brood from a host species like Formica fusca. I would be surprised if any non social parasite Formica was protected, as as far as I know, none of them are endangered at all. I tried to find a list of protected species in the Czech Republic, but I wasn't successful.


Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis


#8 Offline Barristan - Posted June 6 2020 - 9:49 AM

Barristan

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 884 posts
  • LocationBindlach, Bavaria, Germany

Unfortunately there are some crazy laws (some Austrian states have them...) that protect every Formica species, so even the very common Formica fusca may not be kept. But I haven't heard of any case that someone had to pay a fee or was punished in any way because he/she kept Formica fusca. 


  • Antennal_Scrobe likes this

#9 Offline Antennal_Scrobe - Posted June 6 2020 - 10:13 AM

Antennal_Scrobe

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 933 posts
  • LocationMilwaukee, Wisconsin

I see. So kind of like the weird "plant pest" laws in the USA.


Currently keeping:

 

Tetramorium immigrans, Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica punctiventris, Formica subsericea

Formica pallidefulva, Aphaeogaster cf. rudis

Camponotus pennsylvanicus

Camponotus nearcticus

Crematogaster cerasi

Temnothorax ambiguus

Prenolepis imparis


#10 Offline AntsDakota - Posted June 6 2020 - 10:16 AM

AntsDakota

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 3,994 posts
  • LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

Formica rufa and F. polyctena are protected species in the EU. I'm not sure about other close relatives, but I think you could potentially get in trouble for keeping this queen depending on the species.

 
Yep, she's definitely protected. In fact I think all Formica species are protected in the Czech republic.
 
But I can't imagine authorities ever finding out about it. And morally I think I'm fine with it too. Formica rufa group colonies are pretty common around here. And like 99% of all queens in nature don't make it anyway, right?
I still wouldn't. Formica rufa are social parasites, so you will need brood from a host species like Formica fusca. I would be surprised if any non social parasite Formica was protected, as as far as I know, none of them are endangered at all. I tried to find a list of protected species in the Czech Republic, but I wasn't successful.
Social parasites are actually fascinating to keep. If the queen and hosts accept, she’ll produce a larger colony than any normal Formica, with large majors.

"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. (including ants) And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version


#11 Offline Quizzie - Posted June 6 2020 - 10:38 AM

Quizzie

    Advanced Member

  • Members
  • PipPipPip
  • 39 posts

I still wouldn't. Formica rufa are social parasites, so you will need brood from a host species like Formica fusca. I would be surprised if any non social parasite Formica was protected, as as far as I know, none of them are endangered at all. I tried to find a list of protected species in the Czech Republic, but I wasn't successful.

 

 

Yes, I know. Social parasites are really interesting to me. I gave the queen 10 pupae I stole from my Formica rufibarbis colony. Fingers crossed!

I just confirmed that all Formica are protected (the link is in Czech, but if you wan't to see for yourself, you can Google translate): https://www.zakonypr....cz/cs/1992-395

 

 

 

Unfortunately there are some crazy laws (some Austrian states have them...) that protect every Formica species, so even the very common Formica fusca may not be kept. But I haven't heard of any case that someone had to pay a fee or was punished in any way because he/she kept Formica fusca. 

 

Yep, exactly. It's dumb. The ground here is literally covered by different Formica ants (mostly rufibarbis). I currently keep only Formica colonies as they are the most interesting local species to me - Formica cinerea, Formica rufibarbis and now Formica pratensis/rufa/polyctena.


Formica cinerea (queen of 2018)

Formica rufibarbis (queen of 2019)

Formica pratensis? (queen of 2020)






Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: queen, formica, id, parasitic, europe, red

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users