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Adak's Slave-Raider Storytime (Formica sanguinea gr.)

formica parasitic formica formica parasite parasite social parasite formica social parasite formica ravida formica obscuriventris ravida obscuriventris

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#1 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted August 6 2024 - 6:17 PM

RushmoreAnts

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Parasitic Slave-Raiding Formica

Formica sanguina group

Update 1

August 8, 2024

 

Ants_Dakota was camping in Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He came across the tail end of parasitic Formica flights, and caught several queens. He was kind enough to give me the queens he didn't want, so here we are. Shout out to AUD! Anyways, I have two species, both in the sanguinea group, which for now I'm going to call Formica cf. aserva and Formica cf. subintegra. We originally believed they were integra group, so we attempted polygyne, which resulted in the death of a couple queens. I have two of the cf. aserva queens and one of the cf. subintegra queens. AUD only wanted a shinier one that is also presumably in the sanguinea group, as he doesn't want to be completely loaded up with Formica colonies. His was one of the healthier queens. I introduced Formica fusca group host pupae to all of the queens, and they all began to groom them and transport them to the furthest reaches of their test tubes. The cf. subintegra queen seems the healthiest to me, and interestingly her host pupae are naked. Two workers have eclosed so far, with 6 more on the way. She has a total of 25 host brood including a couple larvae they are caring for. The cf. aserva queens have roughly 10 cocooned pupae each. I absolutely love parasitic Formica. While I think pallidefulva group queens are more beautiful per se, I can't get over the robust, aggressive look of sanguinea group Formica. These queens, unlike most others I've kept, seem to have personality. They're quick, nimble, aggressive, and have great eyesight, all of which contribute to their exaggerated-looking movements and behaviors. They seem to be looking at you - watching you - probably because they are. I'm super excited to keep these queens and am hoping they lay eggs before hibernation.

 

Formica cf. aserva Colony A

 

 

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Formica cf. aserva Colony B

 

Formica cf. ravida Colony B 8/6/2024 (youtube.com)

 

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Formica cf. subintegra

 

 

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Edited by RushmoreAnts, October 6 2024 - 9:23 PM.

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"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

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis


#2 Offline OwlThatLikesAnts - Posted August 7 2024 - 7:03 AM

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Are they like rufa where they can live all by themselves after the slaves die out?


Currently keeping:

 

1x Formica subsericea, (used to be polygynous) 15+ workers with 4 pupa (Idk why they still have)

1x Lasius umbratus, (Workers accepted) 5+ workers with host brood

1x Ponera pennsylvanica, just queen

 

As you watch your ants march, remember: every journey begins with a single step (or queen)-not just towards you, but towards a future woven by diligence and shared dreams - Me

 

 

(I lost braincells just to make this quote)


#3 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted August 7 2024 - 12:20 PM

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Are they like rufa where they can live all by themselves after the slaves die out?

They're parasitic, not slave raiders. They need host workers to found their colonies, that's it. Their own workers are self-sufficient.


"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

 

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis


#4 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted August 11 2024 - 10:46 AM

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For those experienced with the Formica genus, you can help us ID these queens here.


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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. -Proverbs 6: 6-8

My Nationwide Ant Shop Here I have PPQ-526 permits to ship Lasius nationwide!

Attention Ant-Keepers in South Dakota! Join the SoDak(Society Of Dakotan Ant Keepers)

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