Wood ant, very heavy eater. Founds by temporary social parasitism (queen adopted by Serviformica) or by budding. Hard to keep, for experienced keepers. Protected in several countries (Germany, Switzerland…): never take from a wild mound.
Work out the amounts for your colony →Calculator opened with Formica rufa (gr.) already selected: number of workers, brood, temperature. Free, no account.Calculator figures for moderate brood at 24 °C:
| WORKERS | PROTEIN | SUGAR |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1 fruit fly · Every 5 days | 1 drop · Every 4 days |
| 50 | 6 fruit flies · Every 4 days | 2 drops · Every 3 days |
| 150 | 5 juvenile crickets · Every 3 days | 7 drops · Every 3 days |
| 400 | ¾ medium cricket · Every 3 days | 18 drops · Every 3 days |
1 fruit fly ≈ a 2–3 mm insect; a medium cricket (1 cm) is about 50 fruit flies. 1 drop ≈ 0.05 mL.
Adjust to what you see: if food is left after 24 h, give less; if it all goes fast and the brood grows, give more.
Special founding (parasitic queen): see the note above.
From October to February, 2–8 °C.
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Work out the amounts for your colony →Calculator opened with Formica rufa (gr.) already selected: number of workers, brood, temperature. Free, no account.