|
Post by UKantz on Apr 10, 2012 7:06:07 GMT
I could possibly catch queens of Formica rufa, but noticed that there nest are huge and have up to 100 queens. But if I only caught 1 queen would it be possible to keep them without there being 500,000 workers? Plus I have encountered there nests before and the ants are a very territorial, they tend to squirt Formic acid at me. I'm worried that when the queen has workers they may get stressed and squirt acid every where thus killing them selfs. If anyone knows if this is a suitable species to keep or has had experience with them could you please share?
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 10, 2012 7:33:52 GMT
Like I have told other members who love wood ants, this species does make very long foraging trails which extend like tentacles from the nest. Even from just 1 queen you might get a colony with thousands of workers, and when kept in captivity they would require a lot of space, plus a good air flow to ventilate the nest. As they build large mounds from forest debris, when kept confined this can give rise to mite infestation or the growth of fungi. In my honest opinion Formica rufa is best left in the wild, as they function much better in woodlands and open sandy heathlands. You can also observe their natural behaviour in the wild, plus get some great video or photographs of these interesting ants. I have kept them incaptivity for study purposes, but always released them back in the exact same place I collected them (the mother nest) after a period of not more than 4 months. These ants are fast, can run up glass or plastic vertical walls in a split second; and they will spray formic acid if they feel threatened. My advice, either keep them for a short time only, or watch them in the wild where they really belong.
|
|
|
Post by UKantz on Apr 10, 2012 7:37:49 GMT
Thanks wood and I love observing my local wood ant nests, they are the most efficient hunter I know of all I see in the trails are dead insects fascinating to watch
|
|
|
Post by Wood~Ant on Apr 10, 2012 7:43:51 GMT
I'm not sure what county you live in, but how far away are your local rufa nests?
|
|
|
Post by UKantz on Apr 10, 2012 7:48:30 GMT
I'm in the uk, west midlands there about a 20 min drive way if you consider that local
|
|