25 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

I keep formica obscuripes (the closest thing we have in NA to european rufa) in a large tank and constantly supply them with pine needles and other material to build their mound. I’m also hoping to soon add some plants with aphids to allow them to farm honeydew.

Here’s a comparison of the tank when they were just added and now:

I was thinking of the large tank approach so they can build their mounds. Maybe in the future. What’s NA

What plant material do you use to construct their nest. I was thinking of using my grass clipping from mowing.

Go back and reread his post. You’ll find your answer.

[AntsCali098]

Awesome looking colony. I didn't know they would build their mounds in setups like this.

[AnonymousSho]

Hello I'm new to the ant hobby and I just caught a queen formica sanguinae identified by an expert on reddit who said that it is fully parasitic and I wanted to know if I need to strictly give my queen ant other worker ants of the exact same species or if I could give her ants from lasius niger for example or carpenter ants.

[ANTdrew]

They need to be from the same Formica genus.

[antsriondel]

I keep formica obscuripes (the closest thing we have in NA to european rufa) in a large tank and constantly supply them with pine needles and other material to build their mound. I’m also hoping to soon add some plants with aphids to allow them to farm honeydew.

Here’s a comparison of the tank when they were just added and now:

that's incredible! Need to get some of these gals soon.

[Manitobant]

Hello I'm new to the ant hobby and I just caught a queen formica sanguinae identified by an expert on reddit who said that it is fully parasitic and I wanted to know if I need to strictly give my queen ant other worker ants of the exact same species or if I could give her ants from lasius niger for example or carpenter ants.

you need formica workers. Luckily, sanguinea will accept pupae instead of workers which are much easier to get and get accepted.