Formica sanguinea

LAST ONE
Formica sanguinea
€36.98

The bloody slaver ant

Origin : Germany

Geographical distribution: Europe, Asia

Breeding level: beginners

Habitat : Formica sanguinea prefers open and wooded areas with low humidity.
It is common at forest edges and along forest paths, particularly in northern regions.
To escape the heat, it takes refuge in the mountains in southern regions.

Colony form: monogenous (only one queen per colony)

Colony size: 3.000 to 5.000 workers

Size : queen: 9-11 mm, workers: 6-9 mm

Color : mostly bloody red/orange with part of the head and the gastre black

Queen lifespan: 10- 15 years

Food:  Principally sweet liquids, jellies... but needs proteins too with  fruit flies, little parts of crickets or cockroaches...

Humidity: 40-60%.

Temperature:  22 - 26°C.

Hibernation: Yes, from mid-November to early March at temperatures of 6-10°C.

Nest type:  Ytong, plaster, acrylic, 3D printed nests, wooden nests.

Why is this a slaver ant ?

The Blood-Red Ant: A Master Manipulator 

Formica sanguinea, also known as the blood-red ant or "slave ant," is a fascinating species found in all europe, all asia and now americas. Unlike most ants, they don't rely on brute force to grow their colony. Instead, they're slave-makers.

Raiding for Workers: These clever ants target neighboring colonies, primarily Serviformica species like Formica fusca. They launch raids to steal pupae (developing ants). Back in their nest, the stolen pupae develop into worker ants who then work for the Formica sanguinea colony.

Self-Sufficient, But Opportunistic: While Formica sanguinea workers can raise their own young, they readily exploit the opportunity to boost their workforce through slave raids. This behavior isn't essential for their survival (unlike some other slave-making ants), but it allows them to grow faster and dominate their territory.

Key Points:

  • Formica sanguinea steals pupae from other ant colonies.
  • The stolen ants become workers in the Formica sanguinea colony.
  • They can raise their own young but prefer to enslave others.
  • Slave-making helps them grow faster and dominate their environment.

 

The Formica sanguinea queens we sell is ALREADY delivered with her own workers and slaves (15-20 in total) and brood.