13 replies to this topic

[Hunter]

where they live, good spots to look, ect

[Batspiderfish]

They live in open fields. They don't make good pets, though, since these particular Formica are dependent on workers raided from their host species.

[Hunter]

I have 4 large subvecea colonys for raids

[Batspiderfish]

It probably won't be enough. After the month of July, they are pretty much raiding constantly until the fall, sometimes moving around after surrounding colonies are depleted. The F. rubicunda themselves don't do much of anything in the nest, so it's more like having a queenless colony of their host species.

[Hunter]

are there any better formica species that are like them in Maine

[Connectimyrmex]

I'd just stick to the non-raiding Formica. You could try to keep F. rubicunda, but you have to know that you'll not get very far with the species. All slave raiders are practically the same, that is why none of them are recommended as pets (same with the Lasius parasites).

 

They'll also need a VERY large outworld to support their massive raiding trails. I have a large colony of a related species in my yard, and their raiding trail is sometimes two feet wide.

Edited by Connectimyrmex, January 3 2018 - 8:09 AM.

[Batspiderfish]

Formica aserva comes to mind ("aserva" means "no slaves" -- raiding is facultative, optional) but I haven't had much luck finding them in the Portland area. They seem to be more abundant up north. I used to see a lot of July queens in the Madison/Skowhegan area, although that is obviously pretty far away. If you can escape from civilization, you might also be able to find something from the rufa or exsectoides groups; these are social parasites which are not nest raiders.

Edited by Batspiderfish, January 3 2018 - 8:12 AM.

[Hunter]

rufa or exsectoides sounds cool

[Hunter]

rufa or exsectoides sounds cool

are they hard to get to work

[Hunter]

also is formica rufa even it maine, 3 websites say no

[Batspiderfish]

Formica rufa is a Eurasian species, but we have native members of that species group in North America, i.e. Formica integra.

Raiding Formica are from the sanguinea group, named after another Eurasian ant species, although we have members of this group as the likes of F. aserva, F. rubicunda, F. subintegra, etc. Coincidentally, their namesake, Formica sanguinea, is a facultative raider like F. aserva. Most sanguinea group ants are obligate raiders, much like their Polyergus cousins, dependent on their host species.

It's also worth noting that the sanguinea group often raids other nests as their primary source of food, not just to recruit workers. This is why raider nests have been dug up to find brood from different genera or even subfamilies -- these make good eating. The Aphaenogaster colony I am keeping was flushed out during one of these raids.

Edited by Batspiderfish, January 3 2018 - 8:32 AM.

[Hunter]

ok tnx

[T.C.]

I recommend waiting for the snow to melt first.

[Connectimyrmex]

I recommend waiting for the snow to melt first.

LOL