Found on my front porch this afternoon around 4:30pm. It's 84F and sunny today.
Approximately 5mm.
Maybe the long spines give it away?
![IMG_20220918_170034352~2.jpg](https://www.formiculture.com/uploads/monthly_09_2022/post-4144-0-85287000-1663536339.jpg)
Myrmica rubra (?) However off the top of my head I didn't think the queens had spikes like that.
I'd recommend not giving exact species for Myrmica. Myrmica here in the Northern U.S. all look too closely similar to just say it's a species without seeing the microscopic hairs. It is Myrmica though for sure.
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Also, I need to say this before I forget... Myrmica rubra is not native to Michigan and there are absolutely NO records of them in Michigan. So, I highly doubt it's rubra. It's just another Myrmica species. I found quite a few of them just like that one this year.
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Not rubra
Not rubra
I started to wonder this. Any ideas? I searched antwiki with no hope. Maybe Gordon will pop in.
Spine length
@Polyacanthus, you will have more success using a dichotomous key to get species. Care for Myrmica is all pretty similar though so finding out the species doesn't really matter.
Raising Myrmica is fairly easy. They're Semi-claustral and usually don't require hibernation but sometimes do. A fruitfly every other day should be enough for the queen until workers come about. Also, I'd advise against a heating cable. Just keep them at 75F and they'll be fine.
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