7 replies to this topic

[TechnoAnt]

Greetings everyone. (sorry if my English is bad, it is not my main language, and I have bad grammar)

 

I am brand new on this forum, and found it through a reply on my reddit post about my found.

 

Never had a colony in captivity, so no experience.

I have been very interested in Ant's for many years, and only recently found forums and videos with other Ant enthusiasts.

I have over the years spent many hours observing local wild ants in Denmark where I live.

 

On May 13th 2017 at about 6PM local time.

I found what I think might be a queen or at least an elate of the Formica Genus. (personally i think it's Rufa)

It is about 8-10mm in length.

(Pictures Link)

 

I can get more pictures, but I have tried not to stress her much, currently she is in a small glass jar with a cotton swap cut in half and soaked in water. And the jar is in a box to keep it dark.

 

Note: There are at least three nests (99% sure of it being Formica Rufa) around the small town where I live (I have observed these for more than five years), most likely there are more nests because of rich pine forest. During my observations of two of the nests, I am pretty sure one of the two is a sattelite nest.

 

From my readings the Formica Rufa, they are in most cases parasitic. And from browsing forums, it seems they are hard to keep as pets.

And after having searched for protection information, it looks like I'm in the clear to have caught it.

 

Since I don't have any experience in holding Ants as pets, I see myself having a few choices.

1. Let the girl loose. At a random place.

2. Try to introduce her to one of my observation nests.

3. Try to lure other ants to join her.

4. Keep her in a test tube setup and give her time to work thing out herself.

 

 

Any help and/or discussion is greatly appreciated.

 

Edit: Moved her from a small jar to a test tube setup, updated imgur with more pictures after the move.

 

 

Any suggestions on further actions are most welcome.

Edited by TechnoAnt, May 15 2017 - 3:19 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

Formica social parasites only need Formica pupae.

[TechnoAnt]

Formica social parasites only need Formica pupae.

So I would have to somehow get a hold of Formica pupae correct?

[NikolaBale]

Formica social parasites only need Formica pupae.

So I would have to somehow get a hold of Formica pupae correct?

yes it is preferable but i also think (pretty sure btw) that you can use other pupae as long as they are weaker(some lasius sp are used)

Formica social parasites only need Formica pupae.

So I would have to somehow get a hold of Formica pupae correct?

yes it is preferable but i also think (pretty sure btw) that you can use other pupae as long as they are weaker(some lasius sp are used)

[Batspiderfish]

Formica social parasites only need Formica pupae.

So I would have to somehow get a hold of Formica pupae correct?

yes it is preferable but i also think (pretty sure btw) that you can use other pupae as long as they are weaker(some lasius sp are used)

Can you show me where a Formica parasite colony has been started with Lasius brood?

[TechnoAnt]

Just figured out i put this in the wrong place, it should have been in General Anting.

[Batspiderfish]

Just figured out i put this in the wrong place, it should have been in General Anting.

Oh, no. I actually moved it from general anting. Anything that is at least partially an ID request belongs here.

[TechnoAnt]

 

Just figured out i put this in the wrong place, it should have been in General Anting.

Oh, no. I actually moved it from general anting. Anything that is at least partially an ID request belongs here.

 

Alright.