- Dolichoderus quadripunctatus (Four dots ant) :
Latin Name:Dolichoderus quadripunctatus
Trivialname:Four dots ants
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Dolichoderinae Tribe: Dolichoderini
Keeping Level:(2) need very soft wood
Distribiution:
South through Central Europe to Scandinavia
Habitate:prefers deciduous forest
Colonyform:monogyne
Queen:Size: 4,5 - 5mm Colour: head and gaster black, thorax red to brown, on the gasterare four yellow dots
Worker:Size: 3 - 4mm Colour: head and gaster black, thorax red to brown, on the gasterare four yellow dots
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: 4 - 4,8mm Colour: head and gaster black, thorax red to brown, on the gasterare four yellow dots
Nutrion:Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosqitos
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C
Nestform:
Dry, hollow branches, in wood,under the bark , partly in the ground
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plaster
Formicaria size:Size: S - M
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam, cork Arena: Sand, Sand-loam, mould, wood
Planting:similar to Grassland with moss, grass and other plants
Decoration:Moss, grasses and other plants, possibilities for climbing
Description:
This species has their habitat in altitudinal zones, dry grasslands und limestoneareas.
Development:matingflight: begin of july to september
founding: claustral
colonysize:a few 1000 individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Lasius psammophilus :
Latin Name:Lasius (Lasius s. str.) psammophilus
Trivialname:-
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Lasiini
Keeping Level:(1) very easy in keeping
Distribiution:all above Europe, Northafrica, moderate climate asia, Northamerica
Habitate:prefers sandy dunes and sandy xerothermous grassland coverd by Festuca ovina, Calluna vulgaris, Carex arenaria
Colonyform:monogyn
Queen:Size: 9 mm Colour: brown to blackish brown
Worker:Size: 3 - 5 mm Colour: brown, thorax yellowish brown
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: 3,5 - 4,5 mm Colour: black , slim
Nutrion:Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosqitos
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 24 - 28°C
Hibernation:yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C
Nestform:Build their nest in soil with the deepest chamber in 120cm, mainpart between 10 - 30cm
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plaster
Formicaria size:Size: S - M
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand-Loam
Planting:similar to Forest- and Sandareas moss, grass and other plants
Decoration:Branches, Roots, Treeneedels, stones
Description:Is not aggressiv against towards nestdisturbance. Seems to be the main host for Lasius meridionalis. Feeding mainly on subterrainian honeydew producers.
Development:matingflight: on warm days mid - may to the end of june at 22 - 28°C
founding: claustral (without feeding)
colonysize: up to 40.000 Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Temnothorax affinis :
Latin Name:Temnothorax affinis
Trivialname:-
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Formicoxenini
Keeping Level:(1) suitable for beginners
Distribiution:all across central and south europe in suitable habitats
Habitate:arboricole ant which prefers sunexposed trees and hedges, often on Cherry, Oak, Pine and Blackberry
Colonyform:monogyne
Queen:Size: 3,5 - 4,7 mm Colour: like worker, darker
Worker:Size: 2,3 - 3,5 mm Colour: yellow to yellowish brown, gaster brownish yellow
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: 2,5 - 3,5 mm Colour: like the queen
Nutrion:Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosqitos
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C
Nestform:Build their nest in acorns, sticks, under bark or galls
Kind of Formicaria:
acrylflatnest, Ytong/Plaster
Formicaria size:Size: S
Substrate:Farm: Cork, Lightwood Arena: -
Planting:not necessary
Decoration:Branches, Roots, Treeneedels, acorns
Description:Temnothorax affinis is one of the most common but often overseen arboricole antspecies in germany. They can be found in all suitable habitats. They are not aggressive and can be co- housed with other arboricol ants.
Development:matingflight: on july to august
founding: claustral (without feeding)
colonysize: rarely up to 100 workers
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Lasius psammophilus
Formica (Serviformica) picea - Forest ant :
Latin Name:Formica (Serviformica) fusca
Trivialname:Grey-black slaveant
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Formicini
Keeping Level:(2) in small basins they make easily use of their formicacid
Distribution:all above Europe
Habitat:prefers wet grassland, often in the wettest part of a bog
Colonyform:monogyne to polygyne (1or a few queens)
Queen:Size: approx. 12mm Colour: shiny black, brownred legs
Worker:Size: 4 - 8 mm Colour: shiny black, brownred legs, strong pilosity
Soldier:not present
Males:-
Nutrition:Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosquitos
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C
Nestform:mainly in wet parts of moss or around grasstrunks
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest
Formicaria size:Size: S - M
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand-Loam, Humus
Planting:similar to Wetgrassland with moss, grass and other plants
Decoration:Branches, Roots, cork
Description:Serviformica picea is often found in bogs and build thier nest below waterlevel.
Development:matingflight: on warm days during july and august
founding: claustral (without feeding)
colonysize: approx. a few hundred Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Dolichoderus quadripunctatus
- Formica (Serviformica) clara - Forest ant
Latin Name:Formica ( Serviformica) clara
Trivialname:
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Formicini
Keeping Level:(2) in small basins they make easely use of their formicacid
Distribution:all above Europe and Centralasia
Habitat:prefers open xeric and halfxeric grassland, avoids closed areas
Colonyform:monogyne, polygyne possible
Queen:Size: 9 – 11mm Colour: head and gaster are mat black to dark grey, thorax is light colored red, legs are brownish
Worker:Size: 6 – 8 mm Colour: head and gaster are mat black to dark grey, thorax is light colored red, legs are brownish
Soldier:not present
Males:-
Nutrition:Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosquitos
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:yes, from october to march 5 - 8 °C
Nestform:mainly soil, sometimes also in dead wood
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plasternest
Formicaria size:Size: M
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand-Loam
Planting:similar to Grassland with moss, grass and other plants, possiblities for climbing
Decoration:Branches, Roots, Treeneedels
Description:
Biggest and very aggressive Serviformica species in Germany. She is a very dry-and heat-loving species.You can find them on dry grassland and sunny streets and roadembankments. They have good eyesight and are very fast too. The worker of this species looks like the Formica rufibarbis, it is only that the worker of the Formica clara becomes more bigger and aggressive.
Development:matingflight: on warm days end of June to July
founding: claustral (without feeding)
colonysize: a few 1.000 Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Formica fusca
- Myrmica schenki :
Latin Name:Myrmica schenki
Trivialname:European Fireant
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Myrmicini
Keeping Level:(1) easy to keep , they have a potent sting like a stinging - neetle
Distribiution:Southnorway to North Spain, Caukasus
Habitate:prefers open xerotherm areas with low vegetation
Colonyform:polygyn
Queen:Size: 5 - 6mm Colour: crimson (dark red)
Worker:Size: 3,5 - 5mm Colour: crimson (dark red) till brownorange, Gaster shiny
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: 4 - 4,5mm Colour: black , slim
Nutrion:Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosqitos
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 70%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C
Nestform:Nests in soil, in rotten wood and under stones
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/Plaster
Formicaria size:Size: S - M
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand, Sand-loam, mould, wood
Planting:similar to Forestareas with moss, grass and other plants
Decoration:Branches, Roots, Treeneedels
Description:The colony is tough, well-fortified that, active and a bit aggressive, low maintanance ants. They can prick you, when they felt under pressure (similary like stinging-nettle). They are often confused with other Myrmica species but have Nest with a woven Entrance. Is an important host for the Butterfly Maculinea rebeli.
Development:matingflight: july to august
founding: semiclaustral (queen collects food)
from Egg to adult worker approx. 6 Weeks (depending on temperature).
colonysize: max. 1000 indivudals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Formica clara
Myrmica schencki
- Temnothorax crassispinus :
Latin Name:Temnothorax crassispinus
Trivialname:-
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Formicoxenini
Keeping Level:(1) suitable for beginners
Distribiution:in North- and Eastgermany east of Uckermünde - Wittstock - Leipzig
Habitate:Similar to her siblingspecie Temnothorax nylanderi prefers mixed Forest but can also often be found in dry pineforests
Colonyform:monogyne, during summer more than 50% queenless
Queen:Size: 3,5 - 4,7 mm Colour: like worker, darker
Worker:Size: 2,3 - 3,5 mm Colour: yellow to yellowish brown, gaster darkbrown
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: 2,5 - 3,5 mm Colour: like the queen
Nutrion:Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosqitos
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C
Nestform:Build their nest in acorns, sticks, under bark or galls
Kind of Formicaria:
acrylflatnest, Plaster
Formicaria size:Size: S
Substrate:Farm: Cork, Lightwood Arena: -
Planting:not necessary
Decoration:Branches, Roots, Treeneedels, acorns
Description:Temnothorax crassispinus is peaceful antspecie that dodges to ground when they get contact with other ants. It is no problem to co- house Temnothorax crassispinus with other ants like Camponotus.
Development:matingflight: on warm evenings mid - july to the middle of september
founding: claustral (without feeding) but also Pleometrosis or Adoptions are possible.
colonysize: rarely more than 100 workers
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Leptothorax acervorum ants in nest / ant farm / formicarium
- Leptothorax acervorum :
Latin Name:Leptothorax acervorum
Trivialname:-
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Myrmicinae Tribe: Formicoxenini
Keeping Level:(1) suitable for beginners
Distribiution:all across europe, Sibiria, East asia
Habitate:Similar to her siblingspecie Temnothorax nylanderi prefers mixed Forest but can also often be found in dry pineforests
Colonyform:monogyne and polygyne
Queen:Size: 6,5 - 8,5 mm Colour: head and gaster blackishbrown, Thorax reddishbrown
Worker:Size: 3 - 4mm Colour: head and gaster blackishbrown, Thorax reddishbrown
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: 4 - 5 mm Colour: blackishbrown, legs and gaster brown
Nutrion:Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosqitos, small crickets
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C
Nestform:Build their nest in fallen tree trunks, rotten branches, stomps under bark
Kind of Formicaria:
acrylflatnest, Plaster, corknest,
Formicaria size:Size: S
Substrate:Farm: Cork, Lightwood Arena: -
Planting:not necessary
Decoration:Branches, Roots, Treeneedels, acorns
Description:Leptothorax acervorum is a non- aggressive ant which avoids most combats with other ants. The workers forage singly, predating small insects or scavenging insect corpses. They are suitable to co- house them with other ants.
She is a important hostant for the slavekeepingant Harpagoxenus sublaevis and the three workerless Leptothorax- species Leptothorax goesswaldi, Leptothorax kutteri and Leptothorax pacis.
Development:matingflight: on june to begin of september
founding: claustral (without feeding) but also Pleometrosis or Adoptions are possible.
colonysize: rarely up to 100 workers
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Polyergus rufescens queen
- Polyergus rufescens :
Latin Name:Polyergus rufescens
Trivialname:Slave-maker ant
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Formicini
Keeping Level:(2) in small basins they make easily use of their formicacid
Distribiution:from the atlanticcost of Westeurope to western China, In Centraleurope only spotted Populations
Habitate:extremely thermophil, prefers sandy areas (e.g riverbeds, Forestedges), dry to semi-dry Grassland
Colonyform:monogyn
Queen:Size: 8 - 10mm Colour: deep red( western Population) to reddish brown (eastern Population)
Worker:Size: 7 - 8mm Colour: deep red( western Population) to reddish brown (eastern Population)
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: 6 - 7mm Colour: black
Nutrion:Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosqitos
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 50 - 60%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C
Nestform:Build their nest in soil or under stones
Kind of Formicaria:
Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder, Ytong/ Plaster
Formicaria size:Size: M - L
Substrate:Farm: Sand - Loam Arena: Sand - Loam
Planting:like grassland
Decoration:Branches, Roots, Treeneedels
Description:Polyergus rufescens is socialparasitic Ant which is associated with many related ants of the subgenus Serviformica. This is the only european specie of the genus as most species are found in Nothamerica. Most They raid the pupae of the slaveants in their nest so they will behave like the slave-makers. These parasitism is obligate. Through the loss of suitable habitats these ants are highly endangerned in many places. The mainhostspecies are Formica cunicularia, Formica fusca, Formica rufibarbis, Formica clara, Formica gagates and Formica cinerea.
Development:matingflight: on warm day mornings of mid - june to the end of july
founding: dulotic as an obligat slavemaker in different Serviformica species
development: Egg - Larvea: 12 days Larvea - Pupea: 9 - 12 days Pupea - Imago: 20 - 23 days
colonysize: up to 2.000 Individuals plus approx. 90% slaveants
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
- Lasius (Cautolasius) flavus (Yellow Meadow Ants) :
Latin Name:Lasius (Cautolasius) flavus
Trivialname:Yellow Meadow Ant
Taxonomy:Subfamily: Formicinae Tribe: Lasiini
Keeping Level:(1) very easy in keeping
Distribiution:all above Europe, moderate Asia
Habitate:prefers sunexposed grassland
Colonyform:monogyn often oligogyn sometimes polygyn
Queen:Size: 7 - 8mm Colour: yellow
Worker:Size: 2 - 4mm Colour: yellow
Soldier:not present
Males:Size: 3 - 4mm Colour: yellow
Nutrion:Honeywater and insects e.g. Dipterans like Flies or Mosqitos
Airhumidity:Arena: 30 - 50% Nestpart: 60 - 70%
Temperature:Arena: 18 - 28°C Nestpart: 21 - 24°C
Hibernation:yes, from end of October until end of March at 5 - 8°C
Nestform:Build their nest in soil, under stones
Kind of Formicaria:Farm, Farmbasin, Basin, Framebasin, Island, Acrylcylinder
Formicaria size:Size: S - M
Substrate:Farm: Sand-Loam Arena: Sand-Loam
Planting:similar to grasslandareas moss, grass and other plants
Decoration:Branches, Roots, Treeneedels, stones
Description:Lasius flavus is complete subterrainean antspecie which harvest honeydew from rootaphids
Development:matingflight: on warm days july to begin of september
founding: claustral (without feeding), often Pleometrosis with up to 20 Queens and Adoption
colonysize: up to 40.000 Individuals
Quantity:one fertilized queen with workers (see selection); brood (depending on the season and development)
Weblinks:
- Forum
- Reference
Pheidologeton affinis
Lasius flavus (Yellow Meadow Ant) queens
Ants : introduction , care and vivarium set up ... 1 - 2 - 3
Asia : 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
Europe : - Central Europe : 1 - 2 - 3