Formica sanguinea – Colony with Queen and Workers

Description

Fourmiculture Charter for Formica sanguinea:
– Raised by a specialist under optimal conditions, guaranteed parasite-free,
– Health demonstrated by the queen laying eggs and the presence of brood upon shipment,
– No "boost" (addition of brood or external workers to sell colonies faster),
– Guaranteed healthy delivery: partial refund in case of worker loss, full refund in case of queen loss (if delivered within 48 hours),
– Supplied with a care sheet and a health record,
– Species present in France, non-invasive and not threatened,

part with it (see conditions).

Reality surpasses fiction with Formica sanguinea, which are accustomed to attacking Serviformica colonies in order to capture the cocoons that will hatch within the F. sanguinea. Unaware of what is happening, the new worker ants will be adopted and will work for the colony that captured them.

The founding of new Formica sanguinea colonies also works on this principle: the future queen flies off to mate, then seeks out a Formica fusca colony. She settles nearby and steals cocoons that will later produce worker ants, and may eventually kill the Serviformica queen to replace her.

An empire was born…

In captivity, you can offer Formica sanguinea Formica fusca cocoons, or even try to observe their behavior by putting two colonies in contact… But once the F. sanguinea colony is established, the slaves are no longer needed and the colony lives independently.

Like all Formica, it can defend itself and hunt using formic acid, and its strong aggressiveness allows it to feed on various insects.

Queen shipped in a tube with some Formica fusca workers and eggs laid by the Formica sanguinea queen to ensure her health.

Queen size: approximately 9-11 mm.
Worker size: approximately 7-9 mm.
Diet: sugary protein liquids, jellies, insects.
Humidity: low to medium.
Temperature: 27°C during the day in part of the nest, slightly cooler at night (no less than 19°C).
Overwintering: 6 to 12 weeks at 8 to 17°C. Carefully monitor humidity and continue feeding the ants during this period.

Photos: © Christophe Quintin

Latin name:		Formica (Raptiformica) sanguinea
Common name:		Slave-making ant (not to be confused with Polyergus).
Taxonomy:		Subfamily: Formicinae Genus: Formicini
Difficulty:		(2) Relatively easy to raise (much easier than Formica rufa) after establishment. Be careful of stress, especially in confined spaces, due to formic acid.
Distribution :		All of Europe, mostly in temperate climates, mountains, countryside…
Natural habitat:		Seeks warmth, appreciates forest edges, sandy areas, grassy areas.
Number of queens:		polygynous, can have several queens per colony.
Queen :		Size: 9 – 11mm Colour: Head and thorax reddish, gastro black.
Female workers:		Size: 6 – 9mm Colour: Reddish head and thorax, black star.
Soldiers:		No soldiers or majors.
Males:		Size: 7-10mm Color: Black
Food :		Sugary liquids, millet, insects, fruit nectar, pollen.
Humidity :		Hunting area: ambient humidity. Nest: Approximately 50-75% of the nest surface should be humid, with a very humid spot preferably.
Temperature :		Hunting area: 18 – 28°C Nest: 21 – 24°C (a hot spot at 28°C is very favorable for growth).
Hibernation:		Mandatory, long and cold. From the end of October until February or March between 5 and 15°C, after significant feeding.
Natural nest:		It builds its nest in the ground, under stones, sometimes in dead wood. It can form a small dome of twigs.
Artificial nest:		Hybrid nest Fourmiculture Plexiglas/plaster, excavable nest, avoid all Plexiglas and too dry nest.
Nest size:		Start small, but plan for at least 8mm high (Minora, Medium…).
Substrate:		A mixture of sand and clay. Or a nest without substrate.
Plants:		Lives in contact with plants colonized by aphids, for food. Difficult to breed in captivity.
Decoration:		No materials that are likely to rot.
Summary :		Raptifomica sanguinea is a social parasite; the queen enters the slave ant colony, and the adult colonies raid other colonies of the genus Serviformica, such as fusca.
Life cycle:		Swarming: from mid-May to the end of June. Foundation: cloistered (the queen lives on her reserves and leaves alone, and attempts to parasitize Serviformica). Maximum population: Estimated at a few thousand individuals.
Quantity for sale:		1 guaranteed fertilized queen, see option.
More information:		- Reference