Formica rufa
Hormiga roja de la madera
Formica rufa
Red Wood Ant
One of the best-known ants in Europe. Builds mounds of pine needles up to 1 meter tall. Enormous and very aggressive colonies. Produces formic acid as a defense. Fascinating but demanding in terms of space.
20–28 °C
50–70%
50,000–500,000
October – March
🐌 Slow
Every 4 days
Recommended feeding
Carbohydrates
Proteins
High protein demand in summer. They eat large quantities of insects to sustain enormous colonies.
May – June
Sunny, warm days (18–25°C). Early morning hours. Typically in May after the thaw.
Queens are large and reddish. They mate near the nest. Queens of this species are often adopted by queenless colonies.
Can spray formic acid. Require large formicariums. Protected species in some countries.
Queen activity by month
Estimated queen fertility (%)
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