3 replies to this topic

[Anthony]

Any tips on keeping these two species?

[Crystals]

I have kept Formica podzolica before.  I recently sold the colony.

They don't like shadows passing over them.  I put an led light above them so my shadow wouldn't fall on them and they were just fine.

They do see fairly well, especially once you get closer than 3 feet.  Red vinyl doesn't help, but mine had no problem with being constantly exposed to light.

 

Very hardy little gals.  Keep one corner of their nest fairly moist once they are in a formicarium.  They really seem to like a moisture gradient with different areas for eggs, larvae and pupae.  They really like to put the pupae in warm locations in the nest, you can always tell where the heat cable is in the nest.

 

The first year is pretty slow, with the queen only getting 1-2 workers, after the first hibernation things pick up.  Their colonies grow pretty fast once they get over 10-15 workers.

 

I found that they liked fruit flies, bits of cricket, and especially bits of greasy cooked chicken. They love spiders and will accept almost any insect.  They really enjoy hummingbird nectar and all the colonies I have had always chose hummingbird nectar over honey water.

 

Very active during the day, which is nice if you like watching the outworld activity.  They will farm aphids, which is an interesting thing in an outworld. 

 

They climb pretty well, but I find a thin smear of olive oil completely contains them even if they are in a full fledged panic as they simply fall back down.

[Anthony]

Thank you very much

[James C. Trager]

Crystals's description applies well to most non-parasitic Formica. The parasitic species (usually bicolored with foreparts red and gaster black) are often much more fussy and high-strung, and fail to thrive in captivity.